President Hamid begins second term in office

Md Abdul Hamid took oath as the President of Bangladesh for the second consecutive term at a ceremony at Bangabhaban on Tuesday evening.

Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury administered the oath of office to him at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban at 7:43pm, reports UNB.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Chief Justice, Deputy Leader in Parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, cabinet members, Advisers to the PM, lawmakers, senior politicians, former ministers, foreign diplomats, editors and other dignitaries were present at the oath-taking ceremony. 

According to bdnews24.com, Hamid is the 17th individual to hold the presidential office and 16 predecessors served 19 terms as presidents since the independence of Bangladesh.

However, President Hamid has created a history by taking presidential responsibility for a second consecutive term.

Also, this term will be his last term as a president as the constitution allows a maximum of two terms of presidency.

Meanwhile, UNB reports, Md Abdul Hamid was born on January 1, 1944 at Kamalpur in Mithamain upazila under Kishoreganj district.

Hamid, a valiant freedom fighter, was the President of Kishoreganj district Awami League from 1978 to 2009 and the President of Kishoreganj District Bar Association for five times during 1990-96.

In the Pakistan National Assembly election of 1970, Hamid was elected the junior-most member from Mymensingh-18 constituency.

In 1972, he became the Member of Constituent Assembly. As a pro-people and grassroots-level popular leader of Bangladesh Awami League, he was elected Member of Parliament for several times.

In the general elections of 1973, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2009, he was elected Member of Parliament from Kishoreganj-5 as an Awami League nominee.

Abdul Hamid was elected Deputy Speaker in the 7th Parliament on July 13, 1996 and held the post till July 10, 2001.

Later, he became Speaker of Parliament on July 12, 2001 and remained so till October 28, 2001.

In the 8th Parliament, he served as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition from November 1, 2001 to October 27, 2006.

He was elected Speaker in the 9th Parliament and served office from 2009 to 2013.

Abdul Hamid took the responsibility of President in-charge on March 14, 2013 when then President Md Zillur Rahman was under treatment in Singapore.

After the death of Zillur Rahman on March 20, 2013 in Singapore, Hamid became acting President from that day.

Later, he was elected President uncontested as the President of Bangladesh on April 22, 2013.

He was sworn in to the office of President of Bangladesh on April 24, 2013.

First five-year tenure of Abdul Hamid expired on Tuesday.

On February 7, Returning Officer of the presidential election and Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda announced M Abdul Hamid elected for the second term.