A. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury
Encyclopedia
Dr A.Q.M. Badruddoza Chowdhury ' onMouseout='HidePop("80791")' href="/topics/Bikrampur">Bikrampur
, Dhaka
, Bangladesh
) was the 15th president of Bangladesh
and founding secretary-general of Bangladesh Nationalist Party
.
, the founder chairman of the party, he entered into politics as the Secretary General of Bangladesh Nationalist Party
(BNP) during its early years. He won the parliament election of 1979 as a BNP nominee from Munshigan and served as cabinet minister during the years 1979-1982. When the Bangladesh Nationalist Party
again won parliamentary elections in 1991, after a short stint as Education Minister, he was appointed Deputy Leader of the House of Bangladesh parliament under the leadership of Begum Khaleda Zia.
of Bangladesh. Shortly afterward, in November 2001, he became the President of Bangladesh. After a short stint of seven months, he decided not to visit BNP party leader and long-time-colleague Ziaur Rahman
's grave on his death anniversary, trying to stay neutral. Party leaders accused the President of betraying the party. It was expected that the BNP-majority parliament
would start an impeachment process. Hence, Dr Chowdhury resigned from office before the situation could turn any murkier.
and BNP parliamentarian M A Mannan resigned from BNP to work for the new political party. Dr Chowdhury was the President, with M A Mannan as the secretary-general of the new party, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh
, formed in March 2004. It had been a strong critic of the government during the time, and most of its members were defects from the ruling BNP
. BNP parliamentarian Oli Ahmed
too had defected from BNP
to join Bikalpa Dhara, but later split to form Liberal Democratic Party
. He has been the party's President since its inception, except for a brief period between December 2008 and April 2009, during which time he had resigned from his post after the party could secure no seats during the 9th parliament elections.
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Bikrampur
Bikrampur pargana is situated 12 miles south of Dhaka, the modern-day capital of Bangladesh. It lies in the Munshiganj District of Bangladesh. It is a historic region in Bengal. The region is famous for its early Buddhist scholarships and in the later period for its cultural influences...
, Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
, Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
) was the 15th president of Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
and founding secretary-general of Bangladesh Nationalist Party
Bangladesh Nationalist Party
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party , commonly referred to as the BNP, is the mainstream center-right political party in Bangladesh. BNP ruled Bangladesh total 18 years since her independence, the longest than any other party in Bangladesh...
.
Early life
His father, Kafiluddin Chowdhury, was a political leader of Awami League and served as Minister in provincial cabinet of the then East Pakistan. Being inspired by Ziaur RahmanZiaur Rahman
President Ziaur Rahman, Bir Uttam, was a Bangladeshi politician and general, who read the declaration of Independence of Bangladesh on March 26, 1971 on behalf of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He later became the seventh President of Bangladesh from 1977 until 1981...
, the founder chairman of the party, he entered into politics as the Secretary General of Bangladesh Nationalist Party
Bangladesh Nationalist Party
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party , commonly referred to as the BNP, is the mainstream center-right political party in Bangladesh. BNP ruled Bangladesh total 18 years since her independence, the longest than any other party in Bangladesh...
(BNP) during its early years. He won the parliament election of 1979 as a BNP nominee from Munshigan and served as cabinet minister during the years 1979-1982. When the Bangladesh Nationalist Party
Bangladesh Nationalist Party
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party , commonly referred to as the BNP, is the mainstream center-right political party in Bangladesh. BNP ruled Bangladesh total 18 years since her independence, the longest than any other party in Bangladesh...
again won parliamentary elections in 1991, after a short stint as Education Minister, he was appointed Deputy Leader of the House of Bangladesh parliament under the leadership of Begum Khaleda Zia.
Presidency
In 2001, during the second spell of Khaleda Zia's premiership, Chowdhury became foreign ministerForeign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
of Bangladesh. Shortly afterward, in November 2001, he became the President of Bangladesh. After a short stint of seven months, he decided not to visit BNP party leader and long-time-colleague Ziaur Rahman
Ziaur Rahman
President Ziaur Rahman, Bir Uttam, was a Bangladeshi politician and general, who read the declaration of Independence of Bangladesh on March 26, 1971 on behalf of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He later became the seventh President of Bangladesh from 1977 until 1981...
's grave on his death anniversary, trying to stay neutral. Party leaders accused the President of betraying the party. It was expected that the BNP-majority parliament
Jatiyo Sangshad
Jatiya Sangsad or National Assembly is the national parliament of Bangladesh. The current parliament of Bangladesh contains 345 seats including 45 women reserved seats distributed on elected party position in the parliament, the occupants of which are called Members of Parliament or MPs...
would start an impeachment process. Hence, Dr Chowdhury resigned from office before the situation could turn any murkier.
Bikalpa Dhara
Dr Chowdhury felt the need of a third force in the de facto two-party democracy in Bangladesh. He expressed recruiting civil society members in politics to fight corruption and terrorism and establish good governance in the country through an alternate stream (lit. Bikalpa Dhara) political party. He, along with his son Mahi B. ChowdhuryMahi B. Chowdhury
Mahi Badruddoza Chowdhury is a Bangladeshi politician and an ex-member of the Jatiyo Sangshad or Bangladesh Parliament. He is the son of a former parliamentarian and Bangladeshi President A.Q.M. Badruddoza Chowdhury.-Political career:...
and BNP parliamentarian M A Mannan resigned from BNP to work for the new political party. Dr Chowdhury was the President, with M A Mannan as the secretary-general of the new party, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh
Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh
Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh is a political party in Bangladesh founded by former President of Bangladesh and BNP parliamentarian Dr. A. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury in 2004. Incidentally, Dr Chowdhury is also a founding member of BNP, the party he was ousted from. Their party symbol during the polls is...
, formed in March 2004. It had been a strong critic of the government during the time, and most of its members were defects from the ruling BNP
Bangladesh Nationalist Party
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party , commonly referred to as the BNP, is the mainstream center-right political party in Bangladesh. BNP ruled Bangladesh total 18 years since her independence, the longest than any other party in Bangladesh...
. BNP parliamentarian Oli Ahmed
Oli Ahmed
Colonel Dr.Oli Ahmad Bir Bikram is a senior Bengali politician. He is the President of Liberal Democratic Party .Dr. Oli is a freedom fighter. He was the first Bengali Military officer to revolt against Pakistan army on 25 March 1971. Before the starting of Liberation war and was the first officer...
too had defected from BNP
Bangladesh Nationalist Party
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party , commonly referred to as the BNP, is the mainstream center-right political party in Bangladesh. BNP ruled Bangladesh total 18 years since her independence, the longest than any other party in Bangladesh...
to join Bikalpa Dhara, but later split to form Liberal Democratic Party
Liberal Democratic Party (Bangladesh)
The Liberal Democratic Party is a political party in Bangladesh.The party was formed on October 26, 2006 by former President of Bangladesh Dr. A. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury, Colonel Oli Ahmed, and 24 other former Members of Parliament and ministers from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party . The party...
. He has been the party's President since its inception, except for a brief period between December 2008 and April 2009, during which time he had resigned from his post after the party could secure no seats during the 9th parliament elections.
Reference
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