Hussain graduated from the Indira Gandhi National Open University with a bachelor's degree in social work (BSW).[3] After,he worked as a journalist,[4] and was involved in the Karwan-e-Mohabbat campaign and Sambidhan Sevak. Upon entering politics,Hussain advocated for the land rights of people displaced by flood erosion from the Brahmaputra River,and also participated in relief programs during seasonal floods in Assam and during the COVID-19 lockdown in India.[4]
Early life and education
Hussain was born on 10 January 1994 to a Muslim family in the village of Haripur,Barpeta. He completed his High School Leaving Certificate examinations at Tarabari Higher Secondary School[8] before attending Ratnadip Junior College for his senior secondary education. Hussain earned a diploma in Junior Engineering from CIPET,Guwahati,and later graduated from Indira Gandhi National Open University with a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work.[3]
Activism
From 2014 to 2016,Hussain worked in the corporate sector in Pune before returning to Assam. While in Pune,Hussain began addressing issues such as citizenship,land pattas,poverty,and flood erosion.[4] He also worked as a freelance journalist for news organizations in the state.[4]
In 2017,Hussain and his colleagues traveled across India,visiting the homes of people affected by mob lynching and hate violence as part of the Karwan-e-Mohabbat campaign (also known as Caravan of Love). The Karwan's journey began in Assam on 2017,a village in Nagaon,where two young boys were killed in a mob lynching. Hussain also traveled to Jharkhand,Delhi,Mewat,Uttar Pradesh,Rajasthan,Gujarat,and Karnataka. The Karwan continued its journeys for three years,until the COVID-19 lockdown in India.[9]
Hussain was a member of Sambidhan Sevak,an initiative founded by social worker and author Harsh Mander to raise awareness about the Indian constitution in lower Assam. During the 2019 floods,Ashraful and members of Sambidhan Sevak distributed relief in villages in the Barpeta district. He also joined Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti (SMSS).[1]
Hussain contested the Assam Legislative Assembly elections from Chenga as a candidate for the All India United Democratic Front. He defeated the incumbent Sukur Ali Ahmed of the Indian National Congress (INC),a four-time elected legislator from Chenga and a former minister in the Tarun Gogoi government.[11] Sukur Ali had received 23,357 votes,and Rabiul Hussain of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) received 23,373 votes. Ashraful Hussain won with 75,312 votes,securing 58.83% of the vote.[11]
Legal issues
According to his 2021 election affidavit,Hussain faced legal proceedings.[12]
In July 2019,he was charged in connection with "promoting sectarian enmity" for the online publication of a poem by Hafiz Ahmed. The "Miya" poets were granted anticipatory bail that same month. PEN America lists him as a "writer at risk." [13]
On February 9th,2023,Hussain was charged in connection with the assault and kidnapping of a college-aged woman associated with another individual named Ritul Hussain (no evidence of family relation to Ashraful Hussain). He denied being involved in a crime,but that he knows Ritul Hussain and it appeared to be a "love interest" problem. [14] [needs to be followed up with more accurate disposition and outcome]
Personal life
On 27 May 2021,Ashraful Hussain married Rehna Sultana,an assistant professor at Sibsagar Girls' College.[3]
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