Page:Twelve men of Bengal in the nineteenth century (1910).djvu/144

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TWELVE MEN OF BENGAL

the cause which he had so nearly at heart. In 1870 he was again appointed a member of the Bengal Legislative Council by Sir William Grey, and for the third time by Sir George Campbell who offered him the appointment in a letter, dated the 30th of December 1872, in which he wrote "I do not think the Muhammadan community could be better represented in the Legislative Council than by yourself." For a few months in 1879 he acted as Stipendiary Presidency Magistrate, afterwards being appointed to preside over the Suburban Police Court at Sealdah. There he remained for over seven years finally retiring in December 1887 on a special pension sanctioned by Government.

Such in brief outline is the official record of Abdul Latif's career. It is a record of quiet and consistent good service, marked by no great opportunities but fulfilling to the utmost its possibilities. It is not, however, in his official work that his chief claim to a place among the most distinguished men of Bengal in the nineteenth century lies. It is for his social and philanthropic work that his memory will ever be revered by the Muhammadan community for whose advancement he so earnestly strove. It is difficult in the present day when so many Muhammadans are to the fore in every walk of life to realise how unique was the position occupied by Abdul Latif and how large was the part he played in raising the community to the place it holds to-day. The pioneer of the