Hasan Mahmud made foreign minister

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has chosen an experienced politician - Mohammed Hasan Mahmud - to oversee her government’s foreign policy- friendship to all, malice towards none - in a changed scenario globally amid intensified geopolitics and big powers rivalry.

Hasan Mahmud, who served as Information and Broadcasting Minister in the last tenure, has been appointed as next foreign minister.

The portfolio was distributed after the oath-taking ceremony at Bangabhaban on Thursday evening.

Hasan Mahmud replaced AK Abdul Momen.

He was elected from Chattogram-7 this time though he was elected the Jatiya Sangsad member from Chittagong-6 constituency during 2008–2018.

He was appointed as the state minister for foreign affairs in January 2009 in Sheikh Hasina’s cabinet but 6 months later he was moved to the position of state minister for environment and forests.

In November 2011, he was promoted to the full minister of environment and forest. 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.

Dr. Hasan was elected from Chittagong-7 constituency in the 10th parliamentary elections in 2014 and in the 11th parliamentary elections in 2018. He became the Information Minister in the fourth cabinet of Sheikh Hasina in the Eleventh Parliament.

Hasan Mahmud 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.

He obtained his PhD degree in Environmental Chemistry from Limburg University in the years of 2000-2001. He has been involved with 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.

During 1996–2001, Mahmud served as the political and parliamentary affairs adviser to then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Political Background:

Dr. Hasan Mahmud is also Joint Secretary, Bangladesh Awami League and served as Secretary, Publicity & Publications, Bangladesh Awami League (December 2012 to 2019).

He has been actively performing political activities since his student life. He was involved in politics both at home and abroad bearing a very successful leadership background at local and national level politics.

In 1977, he was involved with student league of Zamal Khan ward in Chattogram City.

In 1978, he started his political career as General Secretary of the Bangladesh Student League at Government Intermediate College, Chattogram.

In 1979, he was elected as the founding General Secretary of Bangladesh Student League of Government Hazi Mohsin College, Chattogram.

He was also in charge of educational Secretary of Chattogram Metropolitan Student League.

In 1986, he took over the responsibility of Senior Vice President of Bangladesh Student League at Chattogram University.

In 1988, he became the President of Bangladesh Student League at Chattogram University.

Under his able leadership, All-Party Student Unity got a landslide victory in the election of Chattogram University Students Union in 1990.

In 1992, Dr. Mahmud became the youngest member of Bangladesh Awami League, Chattogram North District.

In 1992, he went to Brussels, Belgium for higher study.

He served as an elected President of Bangladesh Students Association as well as International Students Association represented by more than 60 countries while studying at Birje University during 1993-94 and 1994-95 respectively.

In 1993 and (1995-2000), he was in charge of Senior Vice-President and General Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League Belgium respectively.

In 2001, Dr. Hasan Mahmud was appointed as special assistant to the Leader of the Opposition and President of Bangladesh Awami League.

In 2002, he was appointed as Secretary, Environment and Forest affair’s of Bangladesh Awami League.

In 2007, when the President of Bangladesh Awami League Sheikh Hasina was arrested by the Army backed government, Dr. Hasan Mahmud worked as the spokes man of the party and it was much appreciated by the workers and followers.

In 2008, He was elected as Member of the Parliament (MP) for the first time as defeating the Political leader Salahuddin Kader Chodhury.

In (2009-2013), He was appointed as Minister, Ministry of Environment and Forest. Prior to this appointment, he was appointed as State Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Environment and Forest respectively.

Being the youngest member in the working committee of Bangladesh Awami League, he was nominated as Environment affairs secretary in 2002.

Special Award:

Dr Hasan Mahmud, MP is a well-known environmentalist both in home and abroad. He was awarded with the “Certificate of Honorable Mention” by Green Cross International”- an Environmentalist organization for his strong role of global climate change.

As the President of Parliamentary Standing Committee of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of National Parliament he worked very successfully to tackle the country’s environmental and climate threatening issues.