Muhammad Mohsin

Muhammad Mohsin (c. 1732 – 29 February 1812; known as Haji Muhammad Mohsin) was a prominent philanthropist in Bengal. His most notable contribution was during the great famine of Bengal during 1769-70.

Mohsin was born to Haji Faizullah and Zainab Khanam in Hughli (now in West Bengal, India) in 1732. He was home-schooled and gained knowledge in the study of the Quran, Hadith and the 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 Mecca, and visited Medina, Kufa, Karbala and other holy places. After performing the Hajj, he was given the title Haji.

Hooghly Imambara founded by Haji Muhammad Mohsin at Hooghly

Following his return, Mohsin took over the management of the estate of his half-sister, Munnujan. She was the widow of Mirza Salahuddin, the Naib-faujdar or deputy military governor of Hughli working for the Nawab of Bengal. She inherited a fortune from her mother Zainab, whose first husband Aga Motahar had much land and properties in Hughli, Jessore, Murshidabad and Nadia.

After Munnujan's death in 1803, Mohsin inherited all of her fortune. He bequeathed this fortune for charity and created a Waq'f or trust in 1806, with his entire wealth of 156,000 taka. One-third of his fortune was to be donated for education and religious programmes, four-ninths for pensions to the elderly and disabled, and the remaining two-ninths for the expenses of the two trustees. He also gave 40 acres of land out of 42 acres for establishing Govt. BL College, Khulna, Bangladesh. Which is the 10 th College of Bangladesh and the very first college of the southern part of Bangladesh.

Mohsin died on 29 November 1812.

Due to his immense contributions in the field of education, Mohsin is the namesake of many educational institutions in India and Bangladesh. The New Hooghly College in Chinsura, West Bengal, which now bears his name as the Hooghly Mohsin College was established by him. He is the namesake of Government Hazi Mohammad Mohshin College, Chittagong, Bangladesh. and the Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall, University of Dhaka.

He is also the namesake of a Bangladesh Navy base located in Dhaka.