Abdul Hamid (politician)

Mohammad Abdul Hamid (born 1 January 1944) is the current President of Bangladesh. He was elected to his first term in April 2013,[1] and re-elected to his current second term in 2018.[2] Previously he served as the Speaker of the National Parliament from January 2009 to April 2013. He was the acting President after the death of Zillur Rahman in March 2013,[3] and he was elected as president on 22 April 2013.[1]

His Excellency Mohammad Abdul Hamid
মোহাম্মাদ আবদুল হামিদ
Hamid in 2014
President of Bangladesh
Incumbent
Assumed office 14 March 2013
Prime Minister	Sheikh Hasina
Preceded by	Zillur Rahman
Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad
In office 25 January 2009 – 24 April 2013
Preceded by	Jamiruddin Sircar
Succeeded by	Shawkat Ali (Acting)
Deputy Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad
In office 14 July 1996 – 10 July 2001
Preceded by	L. K. Siddiqui
Succeeded by	Akhtar Hameed Siddiqui
Personal details
Born	(1944-01-01) 1 January 1944 Kamalpur, Bengal Presidency, British India (now in Bangladesh)
Political party	Awami League
Other political affiliations	Grand Alliance (2008–present)
Spouse(s)	Rashida Hamid ( m. 1964)
Children	Rejwan Ahammad Taufiq, Rasel Ahmed Tuhin, Riad Ahmed, Shorna Hamid
Alma mater	Gurudayal Government College

He is the longest serving president in the history of Bangladesh.[4][5]

Early life and education

Hamid was born in Kamalpur village, Mithamain Upazila under Kishoreganj District to Md. Tayebuddin and Tomiza Khatun.[3] He started his early education in village primary school. After finishing primary education, he went to his relative's house in Bhairabpur, Bhairab and joined Bhairab K.B. Pilot High School for secondary education. Hamid passed I.A. and B.A. from Gurudayal Government College in Kishoreganj. He obtained LL.B. degree from Central Law College which is under Dhaka University.[3][6] He then joined Kishoregonj Bar as an advocate. He was President of Kishoregonj District Bar Association for 5 times during the period of 1990-96.[3]

Political career

Hamid joined Chhatra League in 1959 whilst a student in Kishoreganj, as the vice-president of Gurudayal Government College. He was also elected the Vice-President of Chhatra League of Mymensingh District Unit in 1966–67.[7] At the end of 1969, he joined the Awami League. In the 1970 Pakistan general election, Hamid was elected as the Member of Parliament for Mymensingh-18 constituency; he was the youngest person elected. In the general elections of 1973, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2009 he was elected as Member of Parliament for Kishoreganj-5 constituency as a nominee of the Awami League. He was the Deputy Speaker of the National Parliament of Bangladesh when an Awami League government was in office from 1996 to 2001. In 2001, he was appointed as the deputy leader of the opposition party at the National Assembly, replacing Shashi Kumar Gupta. On 25 January 2009, he became the Speaker of the National Parliament.[8] For his contribution to the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, he was awarded the Independence Day Award in 2013.

Presidency

Hamid was appointed acting President of Bangladesh on 14 March 2013, while President Zillur Rahman was in hospital in Singapore. Rahman died six days later.[9] Later Hamid was elected unopposed as President on 22 April 2013. He was sworn into office on 24 April.[7] On 7 February 2018, he was re-elected unopposed for a second term.[2]

Hamid suggested that a United Nations-administered humanitarian corridor be established in Myanmar for the Rohingya Muslims.[10]

Personal life

Hamid is married to Rashida Hamid since 1964.[11] Together they have three sons and one daughter.[3]

References

1. "Hamid elected president". The Daily Star. 22 April 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
2. "Hamid elected president for second term". The Daily Star. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
3. "Speaker's Biography" (PDF). Bangladesh Parliament. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
4. "Bangladesh President invites Hasina to form government". The Hindu. PTI. 3 January 2019. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 14 May 2020.CS1 maint: others (link)
5. "President Hamid made a unique record". The Daily Star. 25 April 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
6. "The Honorable President: H. E. Mr. Md. Abdul Hamid". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
7. "Life Sketch of Mr. Md. Abdul Hamid". bangabhaban.gov.bd. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
8. "List of Speakers, Bangladesh Parliament". Retrieved 15 December 2013.
9. "Bangladesh president Zillur Rahman dies in Singapore". Firstpost.
10. "President Hamid discusses 'Rohingya safe zone' with Turkish President Erdogan". bdnews24.com. 14 September 2013.
11. কপাল ভালো বউডা আমার বাইট্টা. Manab Zamin (in Bengali). 8 October 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2019.