Mohammad Abdul Hamid

15th President of BangladeshIn office
14 March 2013 – 24 April 2023
Acting: 14 March 2013 – 24 April 2013Prime MinisterSheikh HasinaPreceded byZillur RahmanSucceeded byMohammed Shahabuddin9th Speaker of the Jatiya SangsadIn office
25 January 2009 – 24 April 2013DeputyShawkat AliPreceded byJamiruddin SircarSucceeded byShawkat Ali (Acting)In office
12 July 2001 – 28 October 2001DeputyAli AshrafPreceded byHumayun Rashid ChowdhurySucceeded byJamiruddin Sircar8th Deputy Speaker of the Jatiya SangsadIn office
14 July 1996 – 10 July 2001SpeakerHumayun Rashid ChowdhuryPreceded byL. K. SiddiqiSucceeded byAli AshrafMember of ParliamentIn office
2008–2013Preceded byOsman FarukSucceeded byRejwan Ahammad TaufiqConstituencyKishoreganj-4In office
June 1996 – 2006Preceded byImdadul HaqueSucceeded byMd. Afzal HossainConstituencyKishoreganj-5In office
1990–1996Preceded byAbdul Latif BhuiyanSucceeded byImdadul HaqueConstituencyKishoreganj-5In office
1986–1988Preceded byconstituency establishedSucceeded byAbdul Latif BhuiyanConstituencyKishoreganj-5 Personal detailsBorn (1944-01-01) 1 January 1944 (age 80)
Kamalpur, Bengal, British India (now Dhaka, Bangladesh)Political partyBangladesh Awami LeagueSpouse ChildrenAlma materGurudayal Government CollegeAwardsIndependence Award 2013

Mohammad Abdul Hamid (born 1 January 1944) is a Bangladeshi politician who served as the president of Bangladesh from 2013 to 2023. He was elected to his first term in April 2013,^[1] and re-elected in 2018.^[2] Previously, he served as the speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad from January 2009 to April 2013. He was the acting president after the death of Zillur Rahman in March 2013.^[3][1] He was 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 Mohammad Tayebuddin and Tomiza Khatun.^[3] He started his early education in the village primary school. After finishing primary education, he went to his relative's house in Bhairabpur and joined Bhairab K.B. Pilot High School for secondary education. Abdul Hamid passed I.A. and B.A. from Gurudayal Government College in Kishoreganj. He obtained the degree of LL.B. from Central Law College which is now affiliated with the University of Dhaka.^[3][6] He then joined Kishoreganj Bar as an advocate. He was President of the Kishoreganj District Bar Association five times during 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 the 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, Abdul Hamid was elected as the Member of Parliament for the 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. On 25 January 2009, he became the Speaker of the National Parliament.^[8] For his contribution to the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, he received the Independence Award in 2013.^[9]

Presidency

Hamid was appointed acting President of Bangladesh on 14 March 2013, while President Zillur Rahman was in hospital in Singapore. Zillur Rahman died six days later.^[10] Later, Abdul 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.^[11]

Personal life

Hamid has been married to Rashida Hamid since 1964.^[12] Together they have three sons and one daughter.^[3] His son Rejwan Ahammad Taufiq is a MP from Kishoreganj-4.^[13]

References