After his father's death in 1952, Saleh inherited the leadership of Sarsina Darbar Sharif and the chairmanship of the Darussunnat Kamil Madrasa. Saleh supported Abdus Sattar, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party candidate for presidency in 1988.[7] He headed the Bangladesh Jamate Hizbullah Hazrat and Bangladesh Jamate Ulema.[8]
Controversy
Saleh was awarded by the Government of Bangladesh with the Independence Day Award, the highest civilian honour, for his contribution to the education sector of Bangladesh in 1980. During this time, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party was in power.[9] The Awami League government has thought of revoking this award as various government documents claim that Saleh was involved in crimes against humanity. Among them is the book "War of Independence of Bangladesh: Documents" (Vol. 7) and "Where are the killers and brokers of 1971", which give direct account of his crimes.[4] It has also been said that he enjoyed friendly relations with the Pakistan Army during the war.[10]
Death
Saleh died on 13 February 1990, and was buried near his father in Sarsina.[6]
^Ahmed, Siraj Uddin, ed. (1993). বরিশাল বিভাগ পরিচিতি. Dhaka: Greater Bakerganj-Patuakhali Society. pp. 36–37.
^ abal-Kumillai, Muhammad Hifzur Rahman (2018). "الشيخ الفاضل العلامة أبو جعفر صالح بن مولانا نثار الدين بن الصوفي ظهير الدين أخوند، رحمه الله تعالى". كتاب البدور المضية في تراجم الحنفية (in Arabic). Cairo, Egypt: Dar al-Salih.