Mohammad Abdul Hamid

Mohammad Abdul Hamid (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. 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.

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. After serving for a total 10 years and 41 days, his tenure ended in 2023 and he was succeeded by Mohammed Shahabuddin. 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. However, he remained comparatively accepted across the political spectrum.

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". Hamid eventually returned to Bangladesh a month later, trashing all allegations of fleeing, and the government took a u-turn not arresting him saying "no innocent will should be prosecuted".

Early life and education

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

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. 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. For his contribution to the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, he received the Independence Award in 2013.

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. Later, Abdul Hamid was elected unopposed as president on 22 April 2013. He was sworn into office on 24 April. 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.

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

International visits

Electoral history

Post July Revolution

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. In February, Abdul Hamid's house was vandalized during the Bulldozer Program.

Deportation and reaction

On May 8, 2025, news of Abdul Hamid's deportation was published. Immigration authorities said in a statement that he had left for Thailand for medical treatment. 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. 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. 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. Following the tension over the incident, the government withdrew one person (additional superintendent of police) and dismissed two others for their involvement. Nurul Haque Nur, Farhad Mazhar, Mahfuz Alam, Gono Odhikar Parishad and many others protested against it. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

Personal life

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

References

Footnotes

Citations

External links

Hamid, Md. Abdul
at Banglapedia

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abdul Hamid, Mohammad

1944 births
Living people
People from Kishoreganj District
Politicians from Dhaka Division
Gurudayal Government College alumni
University of Dhaka alumni
Awami League politicians
Recipients of the Independence Award
Deputy speakers of the Jatiya Sangsad
Speakers of the Jatiya Sangsad
Presidents of Bangladesh
Candidates in the 1970 Pakistani general election
Members of the Constituent Assembly of Bangladesh
3rd Jatiya Sangsad members
5th Jatiya Sangsad members
7th Jatiya Sangsad members
8th Jatiya Sangsad members
9th Jatiya Sangsad members