Aminul Haque (politician)

Haque was a barrister. He was elected a member of parliament from the Rajshahi-1 constituency in the elections held in 1991, 1996 and 2001.[5] He served as the Post and Telecommunications Minister during 2001–2006.[6]

In 2005, a BNP MP from Rajshahi-3 constituency, Abu Hena alleged that Haque was among several party members who were affiliated with Bangla Bhai, military commander of a local Islamist organization.[7][8][9] In November, Hena was expelled from the party for the statements over the rise of Islamic militancy in the country.[10] Bangla Bhai, before his execution in January 2007, disclosed Haque's name as one of the patrons of Islamist militancy.[11] In July 2007, Haque was sentenced in absentia to 31 years and six months' imprisonment for aiding and abetting the militants of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) in extorting and torturing people in Bagmara Upazila in 2004.[12] In May 2009, Frontline World, a US-based news service, reported he had received bribes from the German company, Siemens in 2004.[13]

In July 2009, Haque surrendered and was sent to jail.[14]

In January 2018, Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina named Haque as one of the 50 Bangladeshis whose names were included in the Paradise Papers.[15]

Haque died on 21 April 2019 at the age of 76.[16]