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BIOGRAPHY OF ABDUR RAHMAN BISWAS
10th president of Bangladesh
1 Sep 1926 – 3 Nov 2017
Abdur Rahman Biswas (1 Sep 1926 – 3 Nov 2017) was a Bangladeshi politician. He was the President of Bangladesh from 1991 to 1996. Biswas represented Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly before the independence of Bangladesh. He was born in the village Shaistabad of Barisal district on 1 Sep 1926.
Life of "Abdur Rahman Biswas" At a Glance
◉ Real Name: Abdur Rahman Biswas
◉ Date of Birth: 1 Sep 1926
◉ Date of Death: 3 Sep 2017
◉ Profession:
➢President of Bangladesh
➢Politician
◉ Education: LLB, University of Dhaka
◉ Religion: Islam
◉ Native Language: Bangla
◉ Married to: Hosne Ara Rahman
◉ Children: Monu Biswas, Ehteshamul Haque Nasim, Shamsuddoza Kamal Biswas, Jamilur Rahman Shibli Biswas, and Muidur Rahman Romel Biswas, and two daughters Akhi Biswas and Rakhi Biswas
Early life and Education
Abdur Rahman Biswas was born in Shaistabad village, Barisal District. He received school & college education in his hometown Barisal & obtained BA (Honors) & MA degree in History and LLB from the University of Dhaka.
He was educated at the University of Dhaka, where he obtained BA with honors & an MA in history & a degree in law. His succeeding public service incorporated chairing a local cooperative bank & sponsoring educational initiatives. He joined the legal profession in the 1950s. He was nominated head of the Barisal Bar Association two times in the 1970s & served as a Supreme Court attorney.
Career
Initially, Abdur Rahman Biswas started his career as chairman of a local cooperative bank. He also took initiatives in spreading education through setting up a string of educational institutions. For his contribution to the cooperative movement & several socio-economic activities he got formal recognition by the government as a ‘veteran social worker’ in 1958.
Abdur Rahman Biswas was nominated an associate of the East Pakistan Legislative Assemblage in 1962 & again in 1965. He was Parliamentary Secretary of East Pakistan from 1965 to 1969. Biswas took part in the 22nd session of the UN General Assembly in 1967. He was nominated President of the Barisal Bar Association once in 1974 & again in 1976. He was also nominated Chairman of Barisal Municipality in 1977.
In the General Election of 1979, Biswas was nominated Member of Parliament. He worked as jute minister (1979-80) with President ziaur rahman & as health minister (1981-82) with President Abdus Sattar.
Abdur Rahman Biswas was nominated Member of Parliament in February 1991. He was then selected Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad (The National Assembly) on 4 April 1991. After the reopening of the parliamentary system in the country, Biswas was nominated President on 8 October 1991. While he was President during the era of the caretaker government of Bangladesh, there was a severe army unrest, which he decisively dealt with. Abdur Rahman Biswas accomplished full tenure of his Presidency that finished on 8 October 1996.
Personal Life
Biswas was married to Hosne Ara Rahman a cousin of politician Rashed Khan Menon. Together they had five sons Ehteshamul Haque Nasim (12 Nov 1960 – 12 Mar 1998), Monu Biswas, Jamilur Rahman Shibli Biswas, Shamsuddoza Kamal Biswas, & Muidur Rahman Romel Biswas, & two daughters Akhi Biswas & Rakhi Biswas.
Later Life
After the end of his presidency, Biswas retired from politics. In 2006, throughout the unfolding calamity, Abdur Rahman Biswas’s house in Barisal was set on fire by Awami League activists.
Biswas died on 3 Nov 2017 at United Hospital, Dhaka from respiratory problems, aged 91. He was buried in Banani Graveyard on 4 Nov 2017.
