Motiur Rahman Nizami was born on March 31, 1943 in District of Pabna, Bangladesh. He had been active in the Islamic movement since the very beginning.
He was elected President of the largest student organisation of the subcontinent Jamiat-e-Talaba Pakistan from 1969 till September 1971. He joined Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh in September 1971.
He discharged many responsibilities in Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami like president of Dhaka city Jamaat, Assistant Sec. General of Jamaat. In 1988 he became Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.
In 1991 he was elected member of parliament and appointed leader of Jamaat’s parliament party. He played a critical role in the movement of the constitutional amendment that brought back the country to parliamentary democracy. He also played a key role in restoring the neutral caretaker government concept in the constitution to conduct national election.
In 2000 he was elected Ameer (president) of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. In 2001 he was again elected Member of Parliament. He served as Agriculture Minister in the government and subsequently served as an Industry Minister.
During his tenure as Agriculture Minister, he was praised nationally and internationally for his honesty, hard work and dedication. Bangladesh managed to achieve surplus in food supply during his tenure. During his time as the Minister of Industries, for the first and only time in the history of Bangladesh the state owned Sugar Mills made profit.
Motiur Rahman Nizami was chosen 43rd most influential Muslim leader by Royal Islamic Strategic Centre in 2009.
The Muslim 500 listed Motiur Rahman Nizami among the most influential political leaders in 2016.