Profile of Bangladeshi Ministers.

AMA Muhith Born in Sylhet, Finance Minister AMA Muhith obtained his BA honours in English Literature in 1954 and MA from Dhaka University in 1955. Muhith joined Pakistan Civil Service in the following year. During his service life he studied at Oxford University during 1957-58 and at Harvard University during 1963-64. He joined the language movement at its initial stage during 1947-1948 in Sylhet. He was a member of the Central Committee for the Language Movement.   Muhith served as the general secretary of the central committee of the Pakistan Civil Service Association during 1960-1969. In 1966, he was honoured with the Tamgha e Khidmat award by the Pakistan government. He joined the Pakistan Embassy in the USA as Economic Councilor in 1969. He participated in the Liberation war. He took over as the chief of Bangladesh mission in Washington in 1971. He was appointed the first planning secretary in January 1972 and after three months he was sent to Washington to work as the economic minister. He also served as charge de affairs there for some time till joining as the Alternate executive director of the World Bank. In 1977 he returned to the country and joined as the secretary of External Resources Division. Muhith resigned from the government job in December in 1981. He joined General Ershad's cabinet in 1982, and resigned in November 1983. He then left for the USA where he stayed for years. Muhith served for the Asian Development Bank in 2000 and in 2001. The pledges Muhith made include preventing unplanned urbanisation and saving the environment of the area and taking steps to shift the Sylhet Central Jail from the city heart to another place to build up recreation park. Matia Chowdhury  Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury was born on June 30, 1942 at Pirjopur district. As a student of Eden Girls' College in Dhaka she involved herself in student politics, becoming Vice President of the Students' Union in 1963. In 1967, Matia, popularly known as 'Daughter of Fire' joined the East Pakistan Awami Party and became a member of its working committee. Between 1970 and 1971, she was an active participant in the Bangladesh's independence struggle, campaigning, lobbying, and nursing the wounded. In 1971, she became Organising Secretary of Awami League (AL). She was arrested several times during the period of late president Ziaur Rahman and former president HM Ershad. In 1996, she was elected a lawmaker and took the charge of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food under the Awami League government. Matia has pledged to the people of Nakla and Nalitabari to meet the demands of them with highest priority. She would build up Pichhlakuri bridge over Isamati River and permanent step to prevent wild elephants' attack in the hilly areas of Nalitabari. Abdul Latif Siddiqui Abdul Latif Siddiqui was born at Chhatihati village in Kalihati upazila in Tangail district in 1943. He was elected a lawmaker from Tangail-4 (Kalihati) constituency in December 29 Jatiya Sangsad elections. An organiser of the Liberation War of Bangladesh, Latif did his MA from Dhaka University. He was elected a member of parliament (MP) as an Awami League candidate in 1970, 1973 and 1996 elections. Latif Siddiqui pledged to people that he would work for development of handloom industry and help construct a railway station at Elenga in Tangail district. Barrister Shafique Ahmed Barrister Shafique Ahmed, who has been given the portfolio of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry, was born on July 16, 1937 in Comilla district. He obtained his BA (honours) and MA in geography from Dhaka University in 1958 and 1959. He obtained LLB from the same university in 1963 and later completed LLM from King's College, London in 1967. He received his bar-at law from Lincon's Inn the same year. He taught in Dhaka University from 1969 to 1973. He also served as the principal of City Law College. He was enrolled as an advocate in the High Court in 1967 and in the Appellate Division in 1989 as a senior advocate. He was twice elected the president of Supreme Court Bar Association where he is currently holding the position. Barrister Shafique was also vice chairman of Bar Council. AK Khandaker Planning Minister Air Vice Marshal (retd) AK Khandaker completed his graduation from RPAF College in September in 1952. He served in Fighter Squadron till 1955 and became Flying Instructor. He was at Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Academy till 1957. He served as Flight Commander at Flying Instructors' School till 1958. Later, he became Flight Commander at Jet Fighter Conversion Squadron where he served till 1960. He was Squadron Commander at PAF Academy till 1961. Afterwards, he became Squadron Commander of Jet Fighter Conversion Squadron where he served till 1965. He served as Officer Commanding of Training Wing at PAF Academy in 1966. AK Khandker was president of PAF Planning Board till 1969. Later, he was posted at Dhaka as Second-in-Command of PAF Base in 1969. He took part in the War of Liberation of Bangladesh and served as Deputy Chief of Staff of Bangladesh Liberation Forces. He represented Bangladesh Liberation Forces at the surrender ceremony of Pakistani forces in Dhaka on December 16, 1971. He was Chief of Air Staff, Bangladesh Air Force from 1972 to 1975. He served Bangladesh Biman as chairman from 1972 to 1973. He served as High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Australia and India. He was a minister of planning ministry from October 1986 to March 1990. AK Khandker has been leading the Sector Commanders' Forum as its chairman for two years which created public awareness for trial of war criminals. He pledged to local people in his constituency that he would try his best to solve the problem of river erosion in the area. Advocate Sahara Khatun Ministry of Home Affairs Advocate Sahara Khatun was born at Kurmitola in Dhaka on March 1 in 1943. Sahara is the law secretary of Awami League. She was elected a member of parliament (MP) from Dhaka-18 constituency in December 29 elections. She also participated in the sixth parliamentary elections in 1991 where she lost to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. Sahara, a BA and LLB, is a lawyer by profession. She is the founding president of Bangladesh Awami Ainjibi Parishad, General Secretary of Bangladesh Mahila Samity, member of International Women Lawyers' Association and International Women's Alliance. She has also contributed in the liberation war of Bangladesh and has been involved in politics since student life. Sahara pledged to people in her constituency that he would reconstruct the roads and improve the drainage system in the area.   Syed Ashraful Islam Newly appointed Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, was born in 1952 in the Mymensingh town. Ashraful is an MA and is a businessman by profession. He was involved in politics from the student life. He became the general secretary of greater Mymensingh district Chhatra League and assistant publicity secretary of the central unit. He also worked as the acting general secretary of Awami League (AL) after the arrest of its general secretary Abdul Jalil. Now he is working as the spokesman of Awami League. He is the son of Syed Nazrul Islam, acting president of the then Mujibnagar government in 1971. Ashraful went to the United Kingdom after the killing of his father in prison along with three other national leaders in 1975. He came back to Bangladesh in 1996 and was elected lawmaker from Kishoreganj Sadar in the 7th national elections. He was elected a lawmaker in the 2001 election too. He worked as a member of the parliamentary standing committee on foreign ministry. His electoral pledges include building up developed road and rail link from Dhaka to Kishoreganj. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain Engineer Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, minister for labour and employment and expatriates welfare and overseas employment, was born on September 29 in 1942. He completed his BSc in Civil Engineering and MSc in Traffic and Highway Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) in 1959 and 1963 respectively. He also studied at Strathclyde University in UK. He worked as consultant in different international organisation including UNDP, ILO and WFP at Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Ghana and Egypt. Khandaker Mosharraf was a visiting professor at Buet. He was president of Chamber of Industries from 1997 to 1999. Taking steps to protect river erosion by using scientific methods and taking initiative to increase educational standard are among his electoral pledges. Rezaul Karim Hira Land Minister Rezaul Karim Hira was born on December 1 in 1942 in Jamalpur district. After completing his matriculation, he, also a businessman, started his career in politics. He took part in the War of Liberation and served as a joint convenor of Sangram Parishad formed by Awami League (AL) being the general secretary of Jamalpur Mohokuma AL. He also served in Jamalpur Central Cooperative Bank as its director, vice-president and president. He was also the vice president of Jamalpur district AL. Rezaul was elected as member of parliament in 1996 and 2001 elections. He served as a member of the standing committee on cultural ministry in the eighth parliament. In his electoral pledges, he said that he would implement the long-standing demand to build a bridge in Nandina Ferighat. Dilip Barua Industries Minister Dilip Barua, general secretary of Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal, was born on February 28 in 1949. He completed his BSc (honours) in Physics, MSc from the Dhaka University. He obtained MA, Diploma in Journalism and LLB from the same university. He was a leader of the East Pakistan Students Union from 1966-1970. He was a member of the Communist Party since 1969 and elected member of the Dhaka City Committee of the Party in 1972. He was the President of the Jubo Federation during 1977-1979. Dilip is one of the architects of 14-party alliance. He played a vital role in formulation of 31-point reforms of caretaker government and 23-points programmes. During his long political career, he was imprisoned in 1969 as the student leader, in 1983 as a member of the Political Bureau. He led underground life for several times due to Political reasons.   GM Quader Commerce  Golam Mohammad Quader was born on February 24 in 1948 at West Bengal in India. He completed his SSC and HCS from Rangpur Zilla School and Rangpur Karmichael College. He obtained his BSC Engineering (Mechanical) from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) in 1969. Quader, presidium member of Jatiya Party (JP), held different important posts in several important ministries and organisations including Ministry of Establishment, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, Jamuna Oil Company Ltd and Bangladesh Tobacco Company Ltd. He worked in the Ministry of Agriculture in Iraq as a mechanical engineer from 1976 to 1977. He was elected lawmaker with Jatiya Party ticket in the seventh parliamentary election and served as member of parliamentary standing committee on defence ministry. He was also elected as lawmaker in eighth parliamentary election and served as a member of standing committee on agriculture ministry. Quader, who was elected from Lalmanirhat-3, pledged to the people that he would take effective steps to resolve the monga problem in the area. He would try to start the Mogolhat Railway Station once again and reconstruct the rail line.   Col Faruk Khan Born in Dhaka on September 18 in 1951, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Col (retd) Faruk Khan was elected lawmaker for three times in a row since the 7th parliamentary elections in 1996. Col Faruk started his professional life as a commissioned officer in the then Pakistan Army. He completed his graduation from Pakistan Military Academy and masters in Defence Studies from Defence Services and Staff College in Mirpur. He also received higher education in defence related subjects from the United States. Faruk, also the industries and commerce secretary of AL, worked as a member of the parliamentary standing committees on government institutions affairs and youth and sports ministry. Elected from Gopalganj-1, he pledged to the people that he would protect Vatiapara riverbank area and construct a bridge at Kalna which would ease the road link from Dhaka to Khulna and Mongla.   Dr AFM Ruhul Haque Health and Family Planning Minister Dr AFM Ruhul Haque was elected as lawmaker from Shatkhira-3 in the December 29 elections. He was born on February 11 in 1944 in Satkhira. He passed his SSC from Nalta High School in 1959 and HSC from Notre Dame College in 1961 and then completed his MBBS from Dhaka Medical College. Ruhul Haque was elected as vice president of Dhaka Medical College Students Union in 1967-68. He also participated in Six-point Movement led by Bangabandhu in 1966 and in the mass upsurge in 1969. Ruhul Haque is the president of Swadhinata Chikitshak Parisad and senior vice president of Satkhira district unit of Awami League. He is a former director of National Orthopaedic Hospital, former chairman of Orthopaedics Department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. Dr Ruhul received different domestic and international awards including Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy International Award, Bangabandhu Smrity Gold Medal 2008, Honorary Colonel, a civil recognition of the government of Bangladesh, honorary of Bangladesh Orthopaedics Society and honorary of International College of Surgeons. Elected from Shatkhira-3, Prof Ruhul pledged to the people that he would try and help give the landless people rights in land and construct the Shatkhira-Ashashuni road within six months. Dr Dipu Moni Dr Dipu Moni, the women affairs secretary of Awami League (AL), is the first woman to take the foreign affairs portfolio in Bangladesh. She studied at Dhaka Medical College (MBBS), Johns Hopkins University of Public Health (MPH), and the University of London. Dipu Moni, who was elected from Chandpur-3 constituency, pledged to the people that she would carry out development programmes in the area. She is the daughter of late MA Wadud, a close associate of Bangabandhu and Hossain Shahid Suhrawardy. She is married to advocate Tawfique Nawaz and mother of two sons and a daughter.   Nurul Islam Nahid Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid was born in Beanibazar upazila in Sylhet on July 5, 1945. He studied in Sylhet MC College and Dhaka University. Nahid was an elected president of Bangladesh Chhatra Union in 1970 and a founding president of Jubo Union in 1976. Nahid became general secretary of Communist Party of Bangladesh in 1991. He joined Awami League (AL) in 1994. Nahid was elected lawmaker from sylhet-6 constituency as a candidate of AL in 1996. He served the parliamentary committee on education ministry as a chairman during the last AL government. He participated in the 55th general assembly of the United Nations as a member of Bangladesh team. Nurul Islam, who was elected from Sylhet-6 constituency, pledged to the people that he would ensure arranging gas pipeline in the area and supply of electricity in important villages. Ramesh Chandra Sen Minister for Ministry of Water Resources Ramesh Chandra Sen was born at Ruhia village in Sadar upazila in Thakurgaon district on April 30 in 1940. He obtained his graduation from Dinajpur Surandranath College in 1963. He had been serving as an honorary teacher of Ruhia High School since 1970. Ramesh got involved with politics of Awami League (AL) since his student life. He was elected Vice-President of Thakurgaon District Awami League in 1979. He became president of District Awami League in 2003. In December 29 parliamentary elections, he was elected a member of parliament (MP) from Thakurgaon-1 constituency. In his electoral pledges, he said to people that he would work for overall development of the area. He also promised to solve problems of educational institutions in the area. Dr Afsarul Amin Dr Afsarul Amin, a physician and a businessman, was born on January 1, 1952 at Pahartali in Chittagong. Son of late Dr Fazlul Amin and Hazera Khatun, Afsarul obtained his MBBS degree from Chittagong Medical College in 1979. He got involved in student politics of Bangladesh Chhatra League since his student life and became its president. Being imbued with the noble cause of independence, Afsarul also participated in the liberation war in 1971. He was the vice-president of South Kattoli Ward unit of Awami League for long until he became the relief and social welfare secretary of Chittagong city unit AL in 1992. Afsarul was elected organising secretary of Chittagong city AL unit in 1997 and joint secretary in its last convocation on June 27, 2006. Elected from Chittagong-9, the minister pledged to fulfil his election commitments. Enamul Haq Mostafa Shahid Minister for Ministry of Social Welfare Enamul Haq Mostafa Shahid yesterday urged the officials of his ministry to work together for changing the fate of deprived people in society. He said this while addressing the officials of his ministry and different departments. He further said that his ministry would work for betterment of the distressed, helpless, orphans, disabled and vagrants. He also advised the officials to work sincerely for welfare of disadvantaged people. Abdul Latif Biswas Minister for Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Abdul Latif Biswas was born in Belkuchi upazila in Sirajganj district. After passing the Dakhil examination, he was admitted to Belkuchi Degree College where he obtained his graduation degree in 1986. He entered into politics during his student life and joined Bangladesh Chhatra League. Biswas, also a businessman, was elected chairman of Dowlatpur Union Parishad twice in 1983 and 1988. In 1988, he contested and won from jail.  He was elected a member of parliament (MP) in 1986 with Awami League ticket. In December 29 parliamentary elections, he was re-elected a lawmaker from Sirajganj-5 constituency. In his electoral pledges, he said that he would strive hard to rejuvenate sick handloom industry and protect the area from erosion by the Jamuna. Dr Abdur Razzak Born in 1950 in Tangail, Food and Disaster Management Minister Dr Abdur Razzak has been involved in politics since his student life. He completed his graduation from Bangladesh Agricultural University in 1971 and did his PhD from Purdue University in the USA in 1983. A former director of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council, Dr Razzak took part in anti-Ayub movement, six-point movement and 11-point mass movement. He was also jailed for his involvement in such movements. Dr Razzak, a freedom fighter, was a company commander during the Liberation War. He was the first person to hoist the national flag in Tangail in independent Bangladesh. He was the secretary general of Bangladesh Agronomist Institution in 1996-97. He was also elected a member of parliament from Tangail-1 constituency in the eighth national parliamentary election. In his electoral pledges this year, he said that he would take steps to establish Dhanbari as a full-fledged upazila, bring gas pipeline to the area and meet the demands of indigenous people. Dipankar TalukderState Minister for CHT Affairs Dipankar Talukder was born on December 12, 1952 at Rangamati Sadar upazila. Dipankar completed his matriculation from Bandarban Govt High School in 1968 and HSC from Dhaka College in 1971. He did his honours degree in English from Dhaka University in 1975. The minister, also president of Rangamati district unit Awami League, joined the party in 1973 and was made foreign affairs secretary of the central committee of Bangladesh Chhatra League. He also served as the secretary of Rangamati district AL from 1986 to 1989. He was made the district unit president in 1990. Dipankar was elected as a member of parliament for three times in 1991, 1996 and 2008. Implementation of the CHT Peace Treaty, ensuring gas supply and turning the Rangamati Govt College into a university are among his electoral pledges. Yafes Osman  State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Yafes Osman was born in Chittagong on May 1 in 1946. Son of prominent poet Shawkat Osman, he passed the Secondary School Certificate examination from Chittagong Muslim High School in 1963. He did his graduation in Architecture from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. He was elected the Vice President of the Engineering University Central Students' Union in 1970. He got involved in politics as a member of Bangladesh Chhatra Union. Later, he joined Awami League and became its Science and Technology Secretary. The state minister is a freedom fighter who fought the liberation war of Bangladesh in Sector No-2 in 1971. Ahad Ali Sarker State Minister for Youth and Sports Ahad Ali Sarker was born in 1951 in Natore. A valiant freedom fighter Ahad defeated former deputy minister Ruhul Kuddus Talukdar Dulu's wife Sabina Yasmin. Ahad, who survived the August 21 grenade attacks on Awami League, got involved in politics from his student life. He was the president of Natore Nawab Siraj-ud-Doula Govt College unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League. After the August 15 tragedy in 1975, Ahad was arrested while he was reorganising party workers during the martial law of Ziaur Rahman. He suffered detention during the martial law of HM Ershad. He was elected twice as Natore Sadar upazila parishad chairman in 1985 and 1990. In the last parliamentary elections, he lost to Dulu by a nominal margin of votes. Supply of gas in the region was the first priority among his election pledges. He also pledged to try to implement the Narad and Halda canal project, among others. Begum Munnujan SufianState Minister for Ministry of Labour and Employment Begum Munnujan Sufian started her political career in 1968 as president of Khulna Girls' College unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League. Graduated from Khulna Girls' College in 1969, Begum Munnujan is wife of Prof Abu Sufian, a prominent labour leader and freedom fighter who was later gunned down by assailants near Minakkhi Cinema Hall at Daulatpur in Khulna city. Also a freedom fighter and pioneer of democratic movements, she entered into labour politics a few months after tragic death of her husband. Munnujan Sufian who heads a number of labour organisations in her constituency became a member of Awami League central working committee in 1996. She was elected a member of parliament (MP) from Khulna-3 constituency in 1996 from reserved seats for women. In her electoral pledges, she said she would try to reopen closed jute mills and reinstate sacked workers. She also said she would take step for supply of gas to Khulna through pipelines. Dr Hasan MahmudState Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Hasan Mahmud was born on June 5, 1963 at Rangunia upazila in Chittagong. He completed his BSc Honours and Masters in Chemistry from Chittagong University (CU) in 1987 and 1989 respectively. The minister obtained his higher degree on international politics from Geneva in 1996. He did another post-graduation in Environmental Science from Breeze University of Brussels in Belgium in the same year. Dr Hasan obtained his PhD degree in Environmental Chemistry from Limburg University in the years of 2000-2001. He has been doing politics since his student life. He was the senior vice-president of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) unit at CU in 1986 and president in 1989-90. Dr Hasan performed as the general secretary of Belgium chapter of Awami League (AL) since 1995 until he returned home in 2001. He had been the assistant personal secretary (APS) to AL chief Sheikh Hasina since November 2001. At the same time, he was also the central secretary for forest and environment affairs of the party.Dr Hasan, who ran in the general elections from Chittagong-6 constituency, pledged to take initiative to rebuild Mariamnagar embankment to save all the unions from the Karnaphuli erosion. He also said that he would try to make Rangunia free of terrorists and would build road and other infrastructures. Mostafizur Rahman FizarState Minister for Environment Mostafizur Rahman Fizar was born at Phulbari upazila in Dinajpur on November 29 in 1953. He obtained his LLM degree from Rajshahi University. He was elected member of parliament five times since 1986. In the seventh parliament, he served as the chairman of the standing committee on disaster management and relief ministry. He also served as members of the parliamentary standing committee on public accounts and on communication ministry. Fizar who was elected from Dinajpur-5 constituency on Awami League ticket on the December 29 elections pledged that he would ensure supply of agricultural apparatus with a lesser price and diesel, fertiliser and pesticides in fair price. He also pledged to take initiative to construct roads, bridges and culverts in the area on priority basis. Captain (retd) ABM Tajul IslamState minister for liberation war affairs ministry, Captain (retd) ABM Tajul Islam was born in Brahimbaria district on May 5, 1951. He studied Economics at Dhaka University. He took part in the War of Liberation and joined Bangladesh Army. During the war, he fought in Sector-3. He was arrested after the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and was forced to go premature retirement in 1976. Tajul was elected president of Banchharampur Upazila Awami League (AL) in 1984. He was elected as the first secretary of Liberation War affairs of AL. He was elected as a member of parliament from Brahimbaria-6 constituency in 1996 elections. Tajul Islam pledged to the people that he would work together with people of every stakes and take steps to prevent river erosion.