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Mohammad Abdul Hamid

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This article is about the former Bangladeshi President. For the Malaysian politician and academic, see Mohamad Abdul Hamid.

Advocate
Mohammad Abdul Hamid
মোহাম্মদ আবদুল হামিদ
Hamid in 2018
16th President of Bangladesh
In office
14 March 2013 – 24 April 2023
Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina
Preceded byZillur Rahman
Succeeded byMohammed Shahabuddin
11th Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad
In office
25 January 2009 – 24 April 2013
DeputyShawkat Ali
Preceded byJamiruddin Sircar
Succeeded byShawkat Ali (Acting)
In office
12 July 2001 – 28 October 2001
DeputyAli Ashraf
Preceded byHumayun Rashid Chowdhury
Succeeded byJamiruddin Sircar
8th Deputy Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad
In office
14 July 1996 – 10 July 2001
SpeakerHumayun Rashid Chowdhury
Preceded byL. K. Siddiqi
Succeeded byAli Ashraf
Member of Parliament
In office
25 January 2009 – 24 April 2013
Preceded byOsman Faruk
Succeeded byRejwan Ahammad Taufiq
ConstituencyKishoreganj-4
In office
14 July 1996 – 27 October 2006
Preceded byImdadul Haque
Succeeded byMd. Afzal Hossain
ConstituencyKishoreganj-5
In office
5 March 1991 – 24 November 1995
Preceded byAbdul Latif Bhuiyan
Succeeded byImdadul Haque
ConstituencyKishoreganj-5
In office
7 May 1986 – 3 March 1988
Succeeded byAbdul Latif Bhuiyan
ConstituencyKishoreganj-5
Personal details
Born (1944-01-01) 1 January 1944 (age 81)
Kamalpur, Bengal, British India
Political partyBangladesh Awami League
Spouse
​
(m. 1964)​
Children4, including Rejwan
Alma materGurudayal Government College
Awards Independence Award (2013)

Mohammad Abdul Hamid[a] (born 1 January 1944) is a Bangladeshi retired politician, lawyer and statesman who served as the President of Bangladesh from 2013 to 2023, making him the longest serving president in the country's history.[1][2][3] A political career spanning more than six decades, he was a lifelong affiliate of the Awami League, and was elected a member of parliament (MP) in Pakistan and independent Bangladesh for seven terms. He previously served as the Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad in 2001 and from 2009 to 2013, Deputy Speaker from 1996 to 2001, and Deputy Leader of the Opposition from 2001 to 2006.

Born in the Haor-prone area of Kishoreganj, he joined student politics in the wake of Bengali nationalism against Pakistan via the East Pakistan Chhatra League in 1959. He joined the Awami League (AL) a decade later and was elected as the youngest member of the National Assembly in the 1970 Pakistani general election. After President Yahya Khan postponed the assembly, Hamid spearheaded the March non-cooperation movement in Kishoreganj, and actively participated and organised the Bangladesh Liberation War. After the Independence of Bangladesh, he was elected as a MP in 1973, but was imprisoned after the 15 August coup and the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. After his release in 1978, he remained active in AL politics, elected as a MP in 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2008; and was appointed to various senior posts in the parliament and within the party, mainly by the choice of Sheikh Hasina. As speaker, he served as the acting president during and after the illness and death of Zillur Rahman in 2013. He was then elected unopposed in the 2013 presidential election.[4][5]

As per the twelfth amendment of the Bangladeshi constitution passed after the 1990 mass-uprising, the role of the president is largely ceremonial. He was re-elected in 2018, making him the country's first president to be re-elected.[6][7] After serving for a total 10 years and 41 days, his tenure ended in 2023 and he was succeeded by Mohammed Shahabuddin.[1] In his last day of presidency, he told journalists that he will retire from active politics, and taking any more position would be "humiliating the people of this country".

He is noted for leading a simplistic lifestyle, even during his time in Bangabhaban. His is also known for his witty, humorous approach, with his speeches as president, mainly as chancellor of universities in Bangladesh becoming widely popular. Some of his remarks, however, were deemed sexist by some. As president, he oversaw the controversial 2014 and 2018 parliamentary elections, and signed many criticised bills and decisions passed by the AL-led parliaments and the Hasina government, and controversially commuted some serious convicts from their sentences.[8][9] However, he remained comparatively accepted across the political spectrum.[10][9]

After the July Uprising and the fall of Hasina's increasingly authoritarian government, Hamid was often described as a potential new leadership for the AL, though it was never confirmed by any sides. As part of the cases filed en-masse against AL and previous government affiliates, his name was also included in a murder case. On 8 May 2025, news emerged of his sudden departure to Thailand in the midnight "for medical treatment" after months of silence, triggering large hue and cry from National Citizen Party (NCP) and other pro-July socio-political platforms. Home Adviser of the Interim government Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced drastic measures, including attempts to issue Interpol notice for Hamid. Selina Hayat Ivy, former Mayor of Narayanganj, who was one of the few AL leaders to stay in their homes after the uprising and was considered to be of "clean image" like Hamid, was arrested despite the protests of hundreds of locals against it. As tensions grew, Adviser Asif Mahmud announced plans to ban AL-affiliated Jubo League and Swechchhasebak League. On the midnight of 9 May, demonstrations demanding a complete ban on AL started in the leadership of NCP in front of Jamuna, the residence of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, and then a blockade of Shahbag where Jamaat-e-Islami joined the protests, in a symbolic retaliation to 2013 Shahbag movement. On 10 May, the government eventually announced a total ban on all activities of Awami League and all it's related organisations, even restricting "expression of support".

Early life and education

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Hamid was born in Kamalpur village, Mithamain Upazila under Kishoreganj District to Mohammad Tayebuddin and Tomiza Khatun.[4] 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 an 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.[4][11] He then joined Kishoreganj Bar as an advocate. He was President of the Kishoreganj District Bar Association five times during 1990–96.[4]

Political career

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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.[12] 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.[13] For his contribution to the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, he received the Independence Award in 2013.[14]

Presidency

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Mohammad Abdul Hamid meeting with prime minister Modi at Bangabhaban on 7 June 2015

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.[15] Later, Abdul Hamid was elected unopposed as president on 22 April 2013. He was sworn into office on 24 April.[12] He was requested by then opposition leader Khaleda Zia among others to resolve the political crisis in 2013, but Hamid expressed his inability due to his constitutional role. On 7 February 2018, he was re-elected unopposed for a second term.[6]

Gazette published by Cabinet Division

Hamid suggested that a United Nations-administered humanitarian corridor be established in Myanmar for the Rohingya Muslims.[16]

International visits

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Main article: List of international presidential trips made by Mohammad Abdul Hamid

Electoral history

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Further information: Electoral history of Mohammad Abdul Hamid

Post July Revolution

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Following the Student-People's uprising in August 2024, he was charged in January 2025 with assaulting protesters, although he was not shown arrested in that case.[17][18] In February, Abdul Hamid's house was vandalized during the Bulldozer Program.[19]

Deportation and reaction

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On May 8, 2025, news of Abdul Hamid's deportation was published.[20] Immigration authorities said in a statement that he had left for Thailand for medical treatment.[17] It is also said that the Special Branch (SB) officers of the police say that he (Abdul Hamid) was not prevented from leaving the country as there is no court ban or objection or ban from any force, while the immigration authorities also said that since there is no ban against Abdul Hamid from leaving the country, he was allowed to go for treatment.[21] NCP leader Hannan Masud claims that with the permission of those in power in the government, especially a phone call from President Shahabuddin Chuppu, arrangements were made for him to leave the country safely before he could face trial. Immediately after the news was published, there was widespread discussion and criticism in the media and social media.[22] A report in Jugantar claimed that many people in the government were secretly involved in his safe departure from the country, and that Abdul Hamid used the VIP terminal without hindrance during this time, staying at the airport for about 4 hours.[23] Following the tension over the incident, the government withdrew one person (additional superintendent of police) and dismissed two others for their involvement.[24] Nurul Haque Nur, Farhad Mazhar, Mahfuz Alam, Gono Odhikar Parishad and many others protested against it.[25][26][27] At that time, Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said that if Abdul Hamid's country could not bring those involved to justice, he would resign.[28] Sarjis Alam said that former President Abdul Hamid has fled the country, this is a major failure of the government, for which the government's chief advisers Mohammad Yunus and Asif Nazrul should be held accountable.[29] In response to this incident, on the night of May 8, 2025, Asif Nazrul told a media that there is a possibility of banning the Awami League or its organizations.[30][31] In the evening, students from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement protested by blocking the Home Affairs Adviser's convoy at the Saidpur Airport and demanded to know from the Home Affairs Adviser how the former president fled the country.[32] On the night of May 8, 2025, Hasnat Abdullah called for a siege program in front of Jamuna, the resident of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus until the Awami League is banned, so that many others, including the leaders of the NCP and anti-discrimination student movement, joined.[33]

Personal life

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Hamid has been married to Rashida Hamid since 1964.[34][35] Together they have three sons and one daughter.[4] His son Rejwan Ahammad Taufiq was an MP from Kishoreganj-4.[36][37]

References

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Footnotes

  1. ^ Bengali: মোহাম্মদ আবদুল হামিদ, romanized: Môhammod Abdul Hamid, Bangla Pronunciation: [ˈmoɦɑmmod ˈabdul ˈɦamid]

Citations

  1. ^ a b "Shahabuddin sworn in as president as Hamid's tenure, the longest, ends". The Business Standard. 24 April 2023. Archived from the original on 24 January 2025.
  2. ^ "Bangladesh President invites Hasina to form government". The Hindu. PTI. 3 January 2019. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  3. ^ "President Hamid made a unique record". The Daily Star. 25 April 2018. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Speaker's Biography" (PDF). Bangladesh Parliament. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  5. ^ "Hamid elected president". The Daily Star. 22 April 2013. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Hamid elected president for second term". The Daily Star. 7 February 2018. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  7. ^ "Abdul Hamid becomes 1st president to complete 2 consecutive terms". The Daily Star. 23 April 2023. Archived from the original on 23 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Bangladesh President Signs Controversial Digital Security Bill Into Law". Voice of America. 8 October 2018.
  9. ^ a b "The bird out of the cage, at last". The Daily Star. 25 April 2023. Archived from the original on 4 May 2025. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
  10. ^ "PRESIDENT ABDUL HAMID - OUR LUCKY 7?". The Daily Star. 24 January 2018. Archived from the original on 19 June 2023.
  11. ^ "The Honorable President: H. E. Mr. Md. Abdul Hamid". Archived from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  12. ^ a b "Life Sketch of Mr. Md. Abdul Hamid". bangabhaban.gov.bd. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  13. ^ "List of Speakers, Bangladesh Parliament". Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  14. ^ "Eight receive Independence Awards". bdnews24.com. 25 March 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  15. ^ "Bangladesh president Zillur Rahman dies in Singapore". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 27 July 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  16. ^ "President Hamid discusses 'Rohingya safe zone' with Turkish President Erdogan". bdnews24.com. 10 September 2017. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  17. ^ a b "চিকিৎসার জন্য থাইল্যান্ডে গেছেন সাবেক রাষ্ট্রপতি আবদুল হামিদ". Ajker Patrika. 8 May 2025.
  18. ^ "সাবেক রাষ্ট্রপতি আবদুল হামিদের বিরুদ্ধে মামলা". Daily Ittefaq. 15 January 2025.
  19. ^ "কিশোরগঞ্জে সাবেক রাষ্ট্রপতি হামিদের বাড়িতে ভাঙচুর, আগুন". Prothomalo (in Bengali). 7 February 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  20. ^ "দেশ ছেড়েছেন সাবেক রাষ্ট্রপতি আবদুল হামিদ". Bangla Tribune (in Bengali). 8 May 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  21. ^ "আবদুল হামিদের সঙ্গে আরও দেশ ছাড়লেন যারা | | বাংলাদেশ প্রতিদিন". Bangladesh Pratidin (in Bengali). 8 May 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  22. ^ "কোন কার্যালয়ের ফোনে দেশত্যাগ করতে পারলেন আব্দুল হামিদ, জানালেন মাসউদ". Daily Amader Somoy (in Bengali). 8 May 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  23. ^ "সবাই সবকিছু জানে তবু তদন্ত কমিটি". Jugantor (in Bengali). 9 May 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  24. ^ "আবদুল হামিদের দেশত্যাগ: অতিরিক্ত পুলিশ সুপারকে প্রত্যাহার, বরখাস্ত ২". The Daily Ittefaq (in Bengali). 8 May 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  25. ^ "সরকার কেন কাঙ্ক্ষিত কাজ করতে পারছে না, যা বললেন উপদেষ্টা মাহফুজ". Daily Sun Bangla (in Bengali). 8 May 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  26. ^ "সরকারের ইশারাতেই আবদুল হামিদ দেশ ছাড়েন : ভিপি নুর | কালবেলা". Daily Kalbela (in Bengali). 8 May 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  27. ^ "আবদুল হামিদের 'নিরাপদ' দেশত্যাগ জুলাই গণঅভ্যুত্থানের চরম অবমাননা: ফরহাদ মজহার". Daily Janakantha (in Bengali). 8 May 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  28. ^ "আব্দুল হামিদ পালানোর সঙ্গে জড়িতদের শাস্তি দিতে না পারলে পদত্যাগ করব: স্বরাষ্ট্র উপদেষ্টা | বাংলাদেশ". Somoy News (in Bengali). 8 May 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  29. ^ "৯ মাস পরে আব্দুল হামিদ দেশ ছেড়েছেন, এটা সরকারের বড় ব্যর্থতা : সারজিস". Kaler Kantho (in Bengali). 8 May 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  30. ^ "আওয়ামী লীগ বা তার কোনো সহযোগী সংগঠন নিষিদ্ধ হতে পারে: আসিফ নজরুল". Independent Television (in Bengali). 8 May 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  31. ^ "নিষিদ্ধ হতে পারে আওয়ামী লীগ, সম্ভাবনার কথা বললেন আসিফ নজরুল". The Daily Ittefaq (in Bengali). 8 May 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  32. ^ "সৈয়দপুর বিমানবন্দরে স্বরাষ্ট্র উপদেষ্টার গাড়িবহর আটকে বিক্ষোভ". Bangla Tribune (in Bengali). 8 May 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  33. ^ "আবদুল হামিদের বিদেশযাত্রা, ক্ষুব্ধ ছাত্রদের যমুনা ঘেরাও". Samakal (in Bengali). 9 May 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  34. ^ কপাল ভালো বউডা আমার বাইট্টা. Manab Zamin (in Bengali). 8 October 2018. Archived from the original on 13 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  35. ^ "President's wife stresses women's advanced capability to face challenges". BSS. 30 March 2022.
  36. ^ "Kishoreganj: Where sons of three presidents contesting". The Daily Star. 28 December 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  37. ^ "Bangladesh dissolves national parliament, paving way for new government". Business Standard. 6 August 2024. Archived from the original on 6 August 2024.
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