Remove ads
Mohammad Abdul Hamid[a] (born 1 January 1944) is a Bangladeshi politician who served as the 15th president of Bangladesh from 2013 to 2023.[1][2] He was elected to his first term in April 2013,[3][4] and re-elected in 2018.[5][6] 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.[7][4] He was the longest serving president in the history of Bangladesh.[8][9]
Mohammad Abdul Hamid | |
|---|---|
মোহাম্মদ আব্দুল হামিদ | |
 Hamid in 2019 | |
| 15th President of Bangladesh | |
| In office 14 March 2013 – 24 April 2023 (Acting: 14 March 2013 – 24 April 2023) | |
| Prime Minister | Sheikh Hasina |
| Preceded by | Zillur Rahman |
| Succeeded by | Mohammed Shahabuddin |
| 9th Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad | |
| In office 25 January 2009 – 24 April 2013 | |
| Deputy | Shawkat Ali |
| Preceded by | Jamiruddin Sircar |
| Succeeded by | Shawkat Ali (Acting) |
| In office 12 July 2001 – 28 October 2001 | |
| Deputy | Ali Ashraf |
| Preceded by | Humayun Rashid Chowdhury |
| Succeeded by | Jamiruddin Sircar |
| 8th Deputy Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad | |
| In office 14 July 1996 – 10 July 2001 | |
| Speaker | Humayun Rashid Chowdhury |
| Preceded by | L. K. Siddiqi |
| Succeeded by | Ali Ashraf |
| Member of Parliament | |
| In office 2008–2013 | |
| Preceded by | Osman Faruk |
| Succeeded by | Rejwan Ahammad Taufiq |
| Constituency | Kishoreganj-4 |
| In office June 1996 – 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Imdadul Haque |
| Succeeded by | Md. Afzal Hossain |
| Constituency | Kishoreganj-5 |
| In office 1990–1996 | |
| Preceded by | Abdul Latif Bhuiyan |
| Succeeded by | Imdadul Haque |
| Constituency | Kishoreganj-5 |
| In office 1986–1988 | |
| Preceded by | constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Abdul Latif Bhuiyan |
| Constituency | Kishoreganj-5 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 January 1944 Kamalpur, Bengal, British India |
| Political party | Bangladesh Awami League |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4, including Rejwan |
| Alma mater | Gurudayal Government College |
| Awards | .svg){kind=small} Independence Award (2013) |
Remove ads
Hamid was born in Kamalpur village, Mithamain Upazila under Kishoreganj District to Mohammad Tayebuddin and Tomiza Khatun.[7] 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.[7][10] He then joined Kishoreganj Bar as an advocate. He was President of the Kishoreganj District Bar Association five times during 1990–96.[7]
Remove ads
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.[11] 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.[12] For his contribution to the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, he received the Independence Award in 2013.[13]
Remove ads
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.[14] Later, Abdul Hamid was elected unopposed as president on 22 April 2013. He was sworn into office on 24 April.[11] On 7 February 2018, he was re-elected unopposed for a second term.[6]
Hamid suggested that a United Nations-administered humanitarian corridor be established in Myanmar for the Rohingya Muslims.[15]
International visits
Remove ads
Hamid has been married to Rashida Hamid since 1964.[16][17] Together they have three sons and one daughter.[7] His son Rejwan Ahammad Taufiq is a MP from Kishoreganj-4.[18]
Remove ads
Wikiwand in your browser!
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.
Remove ads