Every year on the occasion of his birthday, the officials and employees of the President’s Office used to greet the President in a simple ceremony at Bangabhaban, but due to the coronavirus epidemic, no formalities were held this time as well as last year.
President’s Press Secretary. Joynal Abedin told bdnews24.com:
The president will spend time with his family members, especially grandchildren, on his birthday on Saturday. Apart from this, you can cut cakes with the senior officials of Bangabhaban.
Abdul Hamid was born on 1 January 1944 in Kamalpur village of Mithamin upazila of Kishoreganj. His political career began in 1959, when he joined Chhatra League.
In the 1970 election, Abdul Hamid was elected as the youngest member of the Pakistan National Assembly from Mymensingh-17 constituency. Since then, he has represented the people of his constituency in parliament six more times in independent countries.
In his political life, Abdul Hamid has mentioned about getting close to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at different times.
In a program on Thursday, the President highlighted various aspects of the political struggle of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Mujibur Rahman at a young age and said that he was proud to have Bangabandhu as a leader in his youth.
Abdul Hamid was the Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad for two terms. After the death of President Zillur Rahman in 2013, he became a resident of Bangabhaban.
Abdul Hamid was awarded the Independence Medal in 2013 in recognition of his contribution to the war of liberation.
As the head of state, he has reached out to the people with his usual humor in various programs, even from the table of rules.
Abdul Hamid, who has been the President of Bangladesh for the second consecutive term, has jokingly compared Bangabhaban with a jail.
In an interview, he said, “No matter how good the caged bird is, it is no longer a forest bird. I came here as a responsibility. I used to get food for my mind in Parliament, but not in Bangabhaban. I can’t do much if I want to. ”
Abdul Hamid, an outspoken politician, has at different times expressed anger over the arrival of bureaucrats and businessmen in politics.
Abdul Hamid said at the 51st convocation of Dhaka University in 2016, Politics has also become like the wife of the poor. Anyone can enter at any time, there is no obstacle. ”
Abdul Hamid, who has been involved in politics since his student days, said, “Everyone … studying engineering, studying medicine … Mr. VC will also do politics after retirement. Those who work in the government … Judge who is there will work for 6 years. After retiring, you will say, ‘I am also a politician’. “I will do politics,” said the retired army chief, army chief, government secretary, principal secretary and cabinet secretary. Whoever wants, whenever he wants, politics enters …. ”
After assuming office in the first term, President Hamid said about the environment of Bangabhaban, “I was in jail during the tenure of Ziaur Rahman. I’m still in jail. The difference is not salute before, now it is. ”
In an interview on April 26, 2014, he said, “I have reduced the hotel rent for foreign trips. My hotel rent in Singapore was 6,000 Singapore dollars. I reduced it to 800. I used to go alone when there was a speaker. There is no other way. I have also halved the hotel rent of my traveling companions. ”
Abdul Hamid was sworn in as the President of Bangladesh for the first time on April 24, 2013. In the next phase, he was sworn in as the head of state of the country on April 24, 2016.
Since the independence of Bangladesh, 18 presidents have served in 19 terms. As such, Abdul Hamid is the seventeenth person in this post.
In private life, Abdul Hamid is the father of three sons and one daughter.
