Biography of Hazi Muhammad Mohsin

Hazi Muhammad Mohsin (03 Jan 1733 – 29 Nov 1812) was born in Hooghly, West Bengal, India. His Grandfather Fazlullah migrated from Iran to Murshidabad and his father Faizullah became a rich Zaigirdar. Zainab Khanam’s first husband Aga Motahar expired leaving one daughter Munnujan and much land properties in Hooghly, Jessore, Murshidabad & Nadia. Zainab thereafter married to Faizullah and Mohsin was born into ... their family.

He was home-schooled and gained knowledge in the study of the Quran, Hadith & Fiqh. Later, he went on a voyage to other countries of Asia, including the regions in current-day Iran, Iraq, Turkey and The Arab Peninsula. He also made the pilgrimage to Makkah and visited Madinah, Kufa, Karbala and other holy places.

Following his return, Mohsin took over the management of the estate of his eight years older half-sister, Munnujan who was the widow of Mirza Salahuddin, Deputy Military Governor of Hooghly working for the Nawab of Bengal.

Mohsin played a significant role during the Great Bengal Famine of 1770 by helping thousands of the victims.

After Munnujan's death in 1803, Mohsin inherited all of her fortune. Leading a very simple life as a lifelong bachelor, he bequeathed this fortune for charity and created a Waqf or Trust in 1806, his entire fortune was donated for education, pensions and the expenses of the trustees.

Through the ‘Charity Fund of Hazi Muhammad Mohsin, many establishments like Hooghly Mohsin College, Hooghly Imambara, Government Hazi Muhammad Mohsin College, Chattogram, Bangladesh Mohsinia Madrasa, Dhaka (presently named as Kabi Nazrul Government College) etc. came into existence.

Due to his contributions in the field of education, Mohsin is the namesake of the Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall, University of Dhaka, a Bangladesh Navy base ‘BNS Haji Mohsin’, located in Dhaka, Mohipur Hazi Mohsin Government College, located at Panchbibi, Joypurhat etc.

History of Government Hazi Muhammad Mohsin College, Chattogram

Under the auspices of ‘Mohsin Fund’ formed by the ‘Waqf-Estate’ of Hazi Muhammad Mohsin, it was established in 1874 as ‘Chittagong Madrasa’. In 1915, Madrasa education underwent a remarkable change and in 1918, a change named as ‘New Scheme Madrasa’ came into force to strengthen Madrasa education. Chittagong Madrasa housed in Portuguese Building was gradually developed into Islamic Intermediate College in 1927 to ensure higher education for the students. In 1967, ‘Government Higher Secondary College’ was founded at the foot of the hill on which ‘Islamic Intermediate College’ was housed in the Portuguese Building. On 20 July 1979, new college named ‘Hazi Muhammad Mohsin College, Chittagong’ came into existence through the unification of both Islamic Intermediate College and Higher Secondary College. Now Hazi Muhammad Mohsin College is a pioneer college of The Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh.

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