Rafiqul Islam was born on 1 January 1934, in Matlab North, Chandpur, Bengal Presidency, British India. He was a Bangladeshi educationist, scholar, writer, linguist, and cultural activist.
He completed his masters in Bengali language and literature from the University of Dhaka in 1956. He then joined the same university as a research scholar and lecturer. He received a Fulbright Scholarship to study linguistics in the United States in 1959.
He wrote 30 books on the language, literature, history, and culture of Bangladesh. His notable books include Nazrul Nirdeshika, Bhashtottya, An Introduction to Colloquial Bengali, Bangladesher Swadhinota Sangram, Bhasha Andolan O Shahid Minar, Dhakar Kotha, Bhasha Andolan o Muktijhuddher Shahitya, Swadhinotar Sangrame Dhaka Biswabidyalaya, and Dhaka Biswabidyalayar Ashi Bosor.
He died on 30 November 2021 at the Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.
