A. N. M. Hamidullah (1919-1994) born in village somospur, in Srinagar of Munshiganj (formerly

Bikrampur Bikrampur (lit. City of Courage) was a historic region and a sub-division of Dhaka within the Bengal Presidency during the period of British India. Located along the banks of the Padma River (a major distributary of the Ganges), it was a sign ...

) district was the first governor of

Bangladesh Bank Bangladesh Bank (BB; ) is the central bank of Bangladesh and is a member of the Asian Clearing Union. It is fully owned by the Bangladesh, Government of Bangladesh. The bank is active in developing green banking. and financial inclusion poli ...

, the central bank of Bangladesh. He served during 1972–1974. Hamidullah's wife was killed in 1971 in an attack by the

Pakistani Army The Pakistan Army (, ), commonly known as the Pak Army (), is the Land warfare, land service branch and the largest component of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The president of Pakistan is the Commander-in-chief, supreme commander of the army. The ...

Early life

In 1919, he was born in the village called Somospur, in Srinagar upazila of Munshiganj (former

) district. In 1971, Hamidullah was the managing director of Eastern Banking Corporation. His entire family was killed by Pak Army when they were attempting to leave Dacca by country boat during no-curfew hours. Hamidullah, who was not with them, is reportedly in state of shock.Blood, Archer K. (2002). The Cruel Birth of Bangladesh: Memoirs of an American Diplomat. University Press Limited. ISBN 978-9840516506.

Career

He was a Fellow of the Washington-based International Bankers Association. He took advanced training in banking through Bangladesh Barclays Bank in London. In 1963 and 1967, he attended seminars on financing of industry held in Tokyo, Japan as the country's representative. He attended the annual joint meetings of the IFM in 1972, 73 and 74 as the Governor of Bangladesh Bank. He was an alternate member of the Joint Committee of the IFM. He was a member of the Permitting Committee for Establishment of Jute Mills in the Private Sector and the Pakistan Fourth Panchshala Plan Review Committee during his time at IDP. In 1965 he got the post of managing director of Eastern Banking Corporation. The Scheduled Commercial Bank he founded became successful in no time and managed to establish 62 branches all over Pakistan. He served the bank till December 1971. Later, Uttara Bank was established by Eastern Bank Corporation and Muslim Commercial Bank in the post-independence era. Later,

Uttara Bank Uttara Bank PLC. is one of the largest and oldest private sector commercial banks in Bangladesh. There are 243 branches at home and 600 affiliates worldwide. Azharul Islam, chairman of Aftab Group, is the chairman of Uttara Bank PLC. History ...

was established by Eastern Bank Corporation and Muslim Commercial Bank in the post-independence era. He was appointed as the first Governor of Bangladesh Bank in 1972 after the independence of the country. Played an important role in organizing a central bank of the newly independent country. During this time, he efficiently dealt with complex issues such as note printing, currency system and regulation of credit system. He remained in the post of Governor till March 1975. He served as ambassador to Kenya and Zambia in Africa from 1978 to 1982. Returning to the country in 1982, first United Commercial Bank, then The City Bank Limited in 1984 and Al Baraka Bank in 1989 decorated the post of Executive President and managing director and created a new level of momentum in these ruined banking streams. Industrial Development Bank, various commercial banks and Bangladesh Bank will be a golden chapter of his working life due to his skill and expertise.

Death

A.N. Hamid Ullah died in Canada in 1994.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hamidullah, A. N. M. Bangladeshi economists Governors of Bangladesh Bank 1919 births 1994 deaths