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BIOGRAPHY OF BADAR UDDIN AHMED KAMRAN
Mayor, Politician
(1 January 1951 – 15 June 2020)
Badruddin Ahmad Kamran was a long-serving mayor of Sylhet City Corporation in Bangladesh. He worked in public service for nearly four decades and was instrumental in establishing Sylhet’s political scene. Kamran began politics as a student leader in the late 1960s and rose through the ranks of the Awami League. In 2003 he created history by becoming Sylhet’s first directly elected mayor. Kamran was well-known for his sense of humor, friendliness, and commitment to the growth of Sylhet. As Mayor and an influential leader of the Awami League, he worked to improve the lives of ordinary people. Kamran’s continuing popularity and political acumen solidified his place as a Sylhet legend.
Life of "Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran" At a Glance
Real Name: Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran.
Date of Birth: 1 January 1951.
Date of Death: 15 June 2020.
Place of Birth: Sylhet.
Education:
➢ Passed SSC from Sylhet Pilot School.
➢ Passed HSC from M.C. College, Sylhet.
➢ Obtained BA from Madan Mohan College, Sylhet in 1976.
Experience
➢ Youngest Commissioner of Sylhet Municipality in 1972 at age of 17.
➢ General Secretary of Sylhet City Awami League 1989-2002.
➢ First elected Mayor of Sylhet City Corporation in 2003.
➢ President of Sylhet Metropolitan Awami League 2002-2019.
Religion: Islam
Spouse: Asma Kamran
Children: He has two sons and one daughter. They are Arman, Asha and Adnan.
Early Life and Education
Badruddin Ahmad Kamran was born on 1 January 1951 in the Charpara locality of Sylhet City. His father’s name was Basir Uddin Ahmad and his mother’s name was Nurunnesa Begum Laklen. He received his primary education at Durga Kumar Pathshala. After completing primary education, he got admitted to Sylhet Government Pilot High School in 1971. Then he got admitted to Murari Chand College for higher secondary education and passed the exam there in 1973. In 1976, he obtained his bachelor’s degree from Madan Mohan College. While still a high school student in 1973, he was elected as a Ward Commissioner of Sylhet.
Career
Kamran entered politics during the political turmoil of 1969. He was elected as the youngest commissioner of Sylhet Municipality in 1972 as a high school student. Since then he became a part of Sylhet Municipality. He has been a City Council member for 15 years. He was re-elected chairman of the city council in 1995. He became the acting mayor of Sylhet City Corporation when it was formed in 2002. He was elected as the first elected mayor of Sylhet City Corporation in 2003. Kamran was elected general secretary of Sylhet City Awami League in 1989. He was re-elected general secretary in 1992 and 1997. He was elected president of Sylhet Metropolitan Awami League in 2002. Although he led the Sylhet Metropolitan Awami League, he worked for the party in Sylhet as a whole. In 2005, as he was inaugurating a tennis court, militants of Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami Bangladesh launched grenades at him, in an attempt to murder him. He is very close to the people of Sylhet. Everyone was happy for him. He was the people’s hero. He stood by the people of the city even during the pandemic. He has led the politics of Sylhet for three decades.
Badruddin Ahmad Kamran was elected as the youngest commissioner of Sylhet Municipality. He served as commissioner of Sylhet Municipality three times. In 1995, he was elected chairman of Sylhet Municipality. From 1989 to 2002, he was the general secretary of the Sylhet city unit of the Awami League. When Sylhet was upgraded to Sylhet City Corporation in 2002, he became the acting mayor. In March 2003, after defeating Mohammed Abdul Hak, he became the mayor of Sylhet City. Kamran won by over 20,000 votes. In 2005, while inaugurating a tennis court, members of Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami Bangladesh tried to assassinate him by throwing grenades at him. In November 2008, six members of Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami Bangladesh were accused of attempting to murder him.
In 2007, he was arrested in the Sylhet Kitchen Market extortion case. Although he got bail in the case, Kamran was detained in another case under the Emergency Power Rules. The Daily Prothom Alo published a series of reports on Kamran’s corruption. In 2008, while in detention, he submitted his nomination and won the 2008 Mayoral election for the second time. He won by 83,000 votes more than his closest rival. On 17 August 2008, he was transferred from Comilla Central Jail to Sylhet Central Jail. On 5 September 2008, he was released on bail.
Kamran lost the 2013 and 2018 mayoral elections to Ariful Haque Choudhury. After being elected President of Sylhet Metropolitan Awami League in the 2002 council, he was re-elected in the 2005 and 2011 councils and held this responsibility until December 2019.
Personal Life
Badruddin Ahmad Kamran married Asma Kamran. He has two sons and one daughter. They are Arman, Asha and Adnan. Kamran passed away on June 15, 2020, at the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka. He tested positive for COVID-19 on June 5, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh, and was hospitalized at Sylhet Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital. As his health worsened, he was airlifted to the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka on June 7, 2020. He died on June 15, 2020, at 3:43 a.m., while being hospitalized at the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka. He was laid to rest in his hometown of Sylhet.
Legacy
Badruddin Ahmad Kamran created a lasting imprint in the political scene of Sylhet via his lengthy stint as mayor and head of the Awami League. He is recognized as an approachable and likable character who was devoted to building Sylhet City. During his multiple terms as Mayor, Kamran conducted various infrastructure projects to increase municipal facilities. He oversaw the development of Sylhet municipality into a modern City Corporation. Kamran also helped increase the Awami League’s status in Sylhet by reviving the party structure. His active campaigning helped several party candidates win national and municipal elections throughout the years. Kamran developed a new generation of political activists and leaders in Sylhet. His aim of converting Sylhet into a major metropolitan center achieved tremendous progress throughout his lifetime. Kamran was an icon of Sylhet who bonded profoundly with its citizens.
Conclusion
Despite the controversies, Kamaruzzaman was a popular person among the people of Sylhet. He was known for his efforts in strengthening the city’s infrastructure and for his devotion to social welfare. He was also a great supporter of the rights of the underprivileged. Kamruzzaman’s life was a monument to the power of resilience. He surmounted many obstacles including political reprisals and jail, to attain his aims. He was a real inspiration to many people and his legacy will continue to live on.
