Abdul Hamid
Who was Abdul Hamid?
Bangladeshi politician who served as the 20th President of Bangladesh from 2013 to 2023, previously holding the position of Speaker of Parliament.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Abdul Hamid (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Mohammad Abdul Hamid was born on January 1, 1944, in Kishoreganj, Bangladesh, an area prone to seasonal flooding. He went to Government Gurudayal College and then the University of Dhaka, where he built his background in law and politics. He started his political journey as a student, joining the East Pakistan Chhatra League in 1959 to participate in the Bengali nationalist movement against Pakistani rule.
Hamid's political career took off when he joined the Awami League in 1969. He showed his commitment early on by becoming the youngest person elected to the National Assembly in the 1970 Pakistani general election. When President Yahya Khan delayed the assembly session, Hamid played a key role in organizing the March non-cooperation movement in Kishoreganj and took part in organizing the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971.
After Bangladesh's independence, Hamid was elected to parliament in 1973. However, he faced major setbacks when he was jailed after the military coup and the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, 1975. Released in 1978, he stayed active in Awami League politics and consistently won parliamentary elections in 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, and 2008, becoming a reliable electoral figure for the party.
During his time in parliament, Hamid held several important leadership roles. He was Deputy Speaker from 1996 to 2001, Deputy Leader of the Opposition from 2001 to 2006, and Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad in 2001 and again from 2009 to 2013. His position as Speaker was crucial when he served as acting president during the illness and death of President Zillur Rahman in 2013. He was then elected unopposed as the 20th President of Bangladesh in 2013.
As President, Hamid held what is mostly a ceremonial position according to the twelfth amendment of the Bangladeshi constitution. He was re-elected in 2018, becoming the first president in Bangladesh's history to serve two terms. His presidency lasted 10 years and 41 days, making him the country's longest-serving president. He finished his term in 2023, having been with the Awami League for over six decades. He is married to Rashida Hamid and has received the Independence Award, Bangladesh's highest civilian honor.
Before Fame
Abdul Hamid grew up in Kishoreganj, where he experienced the challenges faced by rural areas in Bangladesh, especially in places affected by seasonal flooding from the haor wetlands. He studied at Government Gurudayal College and then at the University of Dhaka, during a time when Bengali students in East Pakistan were becoming increasingly politically aware.
The late 1950s and 1960s were times of rising tensions between East and West Pakistan over political representation, economic issues, and cultural freedom. Hamid entered this intense political scene as a student activist in 1959, joining the East Pakistan Chhatra League just after the Bengali language movement. His early political activity aligned with the rise of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the growing power of the Awami League, which advocated for Bengali rights and eventual independence.
Key Achievements
- Served as 20th President of Bangladesh from 2013 to 2023, the longest presidential tenure in the country's history
- First president in Bangladesh to be re-elected for a second term
- Served as Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad twice and Deputy Speaker for five years
- Actively participated in organizing the Bangladesh Liberation War in Kishoreganj
- Maintained seven-term parliamentary career spanning both Pakistani and Bangladeshi legislatures
Did You Know?
- 01.He was the youngest member elected to the National Assembly in the 1970 Pakistani general election
- 02.He served as acting president three times during his career before becoming elected president
- 03.His presidential tenure of 10 years and 41 days made him the longest-serving president in Bangladesh's history
- 04.He was imprisoned for three years following the 1975 military coup that killed Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
- 05.He won parliamentary elections in both Pakistan and independent Bangladesh, spanning seven terms total
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Independence Award | — | — |