Mohammad Abdul Hamid
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Mohammad Abdul Hamid (born 1 January 1944) is a
Bangladeshi Bangladeshis ( ) are the citizens and nationals of Bangladesh, a South Asian country centred on the transnational historical region of Bengal along the Bay of Bengal, eponymous bay. Bangladeshi nationality law, Bangladeshi citizenship was fo ...
retired politician, lawyer and statesman who served as the
President of Bangladesh President of Bangladesh (POB), officially the President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is the head of state of Bangladesh and commander-in-chief of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The role of the president has changed three times since ...
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 The Awami League, officially known as Bangladesh Awami League, is a major List of political parties in Bangladesh, political party in Bangladesh. The oldest existing political party in the country, the party played the leading role in achievin ...
, and was elected a member of parliament (MP) in
Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...
and independent Bangladesh for seven terms. He previously served as the
Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad The Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad is the presiding officer of the Parliament of Bangladesh. The speaker is elected generally in the first meeting of the parliament following general elections by Members of Parliament. Serving for a term of ...
in 2001 and from 2009 to 2013,
Deputy Speaker Deputy or depute may refer to: * Steward (office) * Khalifa, an Arabic title that can signify "deputy" * Deputy (legislator), a legislator in many countries and regions, including: ** A member of a Chamber of Deputies, for example in Italy, Spain ...
from 1996 to 2001, and
Deputy Leader of the Opposition The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest political party not in government, typical in countries utilizing the parliamentary system form of government. The leader of the opposition is typically se ...
from 2001 to 2006. Born in the
Haor A () is a wetland ecosystem in the north eastern part of Bangladesh which physically is a bowl or saucer shaped shallow Depression (geology), depression, also known as a backswamp.MK Alam; ''Wave attack in Haor areas of Bangladesh and cement co ...
-prone area of
Kishoreganj Kishoreganj is a city and the headquarters of Kishoreganj District in Dhaka Division, Bangladesh. The city is divided two sides by the Narasundha River. Demographics According to the 2011 Bangladesh census In 2011, the Bangladesh Bureau o ...
, he joined student politics in the wake of
Bengali nationalism Bengali nationalism (, ) is a form of ethnic nationalism that focuses on Bengalis as a single ethnicity by rejecting imposition of other languages and cultures while promoting its own in Bengal. Bengalis speak the Bengali language and mos ...
against Pakistan via the
East Pakistan Chhatra League Bangladesh Chhatra League, simply Chhatra League (), is the student wing of the political party, Bangladesh Awami League, founded by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 4 January 1948. The organisation is banned and listed as a List of designated terrorist ...
in 1959. He joined the
Awami League The Awami League, officially known as Bangladesh Awami League, is a major List of political parties in Bangladesh, political party in Bangladesh. The oldest existing political party in the country, the party played the leading role in achievin ...
(AL) a decade later and was elected as the youngest
member of the National Assembly In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the represen ...
in the
1970 Pakistani general election General elections were held in Pakistan on 7 December 1970 to elect members of the National Assembly. They were the first direct general elections since the independence of Pakistan and ultimately the only ones held prior to the independence o ...
. After
President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...
Yahya Khan Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan (4 February 191710 August 1980) was a Pakistani army officer who served as the third president of Pakistan from 1969 to 1971. He also served as the fifth Commander-in-Chief, Pakistan, commander-in-chief of the Pakistan ...
postponed the assembly, Hamid spearheaded the March non-cooperation movement in Kishoreganj, and actively participated and organised the
Bangladesh Liberation War The Bangladesh Liberation War (, ), also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence, was an War, armed conflict sparked by the rise of the Bengali nationalism, Bengali nationalist and self-determination movement in East Pakistan, which res ...
. After the
Independence of Bangladesh The independence of Bangladesh was Proclamation of Bangladeshi Independence, declared from Pakistan on 26 March 1971, which is now celebrated as Independence Day (Bangladesh), Independence Day. The Bangladesh Liberation War started on 26 March ...
, he was elected as a MP in
1973 Events January * January 1 – The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark 1973 enlargement of the European Communities, enter the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union. * January 14 - The 16-0 19 ...
, but was imprisoned after the 15 August coup and the
assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first president of Bangladesh, was assassinated along with most of his family members during the early hours of 15 August 1975 by a group of Bangladesh Army personnel who invaded his Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, re ...
. After his release in 1978, he remained active in AL politics, elected as a MP in
1986 The year 1986 was designated as the International Year of Peace by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands by separating from the Netherlands Antilles. ** Spain and Portugal en ...
,
1991 It was the final year of the Cold War, which had begun in 1947. During the year, the Soviet Union Dissolution of the Soviet Union, collapsed, leaving Post-soviet states, fifteen sovereign republics and the Commonwealth of Independent State ...
,
1996 1996 was designated as: * International Year for the Eradication of Poverty Events January * January 8 – A Zairean cargo plane crashes into a crowded market in the center of the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...
,
2001 The year's most prominent event was the September 11 attacks against the United States by al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror. The United States led a Participan ...
and
2008 2008 was designated as: *International Year of Languages *International Year of Planet Earth *International Year of the Potato *International Year of Sanitation The Great Recession, a worldwide recession which began in 2007, continued throu ...
; and was appointed to various senior posts in the parliament and within the party, mainly by the choice of
Sheikh Hasina Sheikh Hasina (''née'' Wazed; born 28 September 1947) is a Bangladeshi politician who served as the tenth prime minister of Bangladesh from June 1996 to July 2001 and again from January 2009 to August 2024. Premiership of Sheikh Hasina, Her ...
. As speaker, he served as the acting president during and after the illness and death of
Zillur Rahman Mohammed Zillur Rahman (9 March 1929 – 20 March 2013) was a Bangladeshi politician who served as the President from 2009 until his death in 2013. He was also a senior presidium member of the Awami League. He is the third president of Banglade ...
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
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, 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 Mohammed Shahabuddin (born 10 December 1949) is a Bangladeshi jurist, journalist, civil servant and politician who has served as the 16th and current president of Bangladesh since 2023. He was elected unopposed in the 2023 Bangladeshi president ...
. 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 The Bangabhaban () is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of Bangladesh, located on Bangabhaban Road, and short road connecting Dilkusha, Dhaka, Dilkusha Avenue, Dhaka. It is surrounded by the Bangabhaban Gardens (fo ...
. 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 The year 2014 was marked by the surge of the Western African Ebola epidemic, West African Ebola epidemic, which began in 2013, becoming the List of Ebola outbreaks, most widespread outbreak of the Ebola, Ebola virus in human history, resul ...
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 The National Citizen Party (NCP; ), is a List of political parties in Bangladesh, political party in Bangladesh. Initiated by the Students Against Discrimination and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee, it was established on 28 February 2025 as the f ...
(NCP) and other pro-July socio-political platforms. Home Adviser of the
Interim government A provisional government, also called an interim government, an emergency government, a transitional government or provisional leadership, is a temporary government formed to manage a period of transition, often following state collapse, revolut ...
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 State Guest House, Jamuna, the residence of Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, and then a blockade of Shahbag where Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Jamaat-e-Islami joined the protests, in a symbolic retaliation to 2013 Shahbag protests, 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 Intermediate of Arts, I.A. and Bachelor of Arts, B.A. from Gov't Gurudayal College, 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 Bangladesh Chhatra League, 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 The Awami League, officially known as Bangladesh Awami League, is a major List of political parties in Bangladesh, political party in Bangladesh. The oldest existing political party in the country, the party played the leading role in achievin ...
. In the 1970 Pakistani general election, 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 Jatiya Sangsad, Speaker of the National Parliament. For his contribution to the
Bangladesh Liberation War The Bangladesh Liberation War (, ), also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence, was an War, armed conflict sparked by the rise of the Bengali nationalism, Bengali nationalist and self-determination movement in East Pakistan, which res ...
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 Mohammed Zillur Rahman (9 March 1929 – 20 March 2013) was a Bangladeshi politician who served as the President from 2009 until his death in 2013. He was also a senior presidium member of the Awami League. He is the third president of Banglade ...
was in hospital in Singapore. Zillur Rahman died six days later. Later, Abdul Hamid was elected unopposed as president on 2013 Bangladeshi presidential election, 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 2013 Bangladesh violence, 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 people, Rohingya Muslims.


International visits


Electoral history


Post July Revolution

Following the Students–People's uprising (Bangladesh), 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 2025 Bulldozer march, 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 (Bangladesh), 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. National Citizen Party, 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 Muhammad Yunus, 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 The Awami League, officially known as Bangladesh Awami League, is a major List of political parties in Bangladesh, political party in Bangladesh. The oldest existing political party in the country, the party played the leading role in achievin ...
or its organizations. In the evening, students from the Anti-discrimination Students Movement, 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 State Guest House, 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 Member of Parliament (Bangladesh), MP from Kishoreganj-4.


References

Footnotes Citations


External links


Hamid, Md. Abdul
at Banglapedia {{DEFAULTSORT:Abdul Hamid, Mohammad Mohammad Abdul Hamid, 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