Fouad Abdulhameed Alkhateeb
Encyclopedia
Fouad Abdulhameed Ahmad AlKhateeb Alshareef (1925 - October 28, 1995), was a Saudi Arabian ambassador, humanitarian, author, and businessman. In his capacity as a diplomat, he represented his homeland in Pakistan
, Iraq
, the United States of America, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Republic of Turkey, the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Nepal
, and finally as Saudi ambassador to Malaysia.
. Soon after, Mr. AlKhateeb was appointed to the position of Counselor within the Saudi Kingdom's embassy in The United States; this appointment spurred his diplomatic career to new heights and he received a succession of other appointments (Nigeria
, Turkey
, Bangladesh
, Nepal
, and Malaysia).
It is noteworthy that Sheikh AlKhateeb was the first Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the then-newly independent People's Republic of Bangladesh in 1975, a country fresh from gaining independence from Pakistan
four yearly earlier (The People's Republic of Bangladesh was formerly known as East Pakistan
)
Through his ambassadorship position in Bangladesh
, Mr. AlKhateeb left a lasting impression on the young nation's economic, religious, and humanitarian affairs. In 1981, he founded the Ibn Sina Trust
and the Ibn Sina Medical Group in Bangladesh as an act of largess, which has grown to become one of the largest medical groups in Bangladesh today, operating multiple hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, medical equipment
manufacturers, medical colleges, and universities within Bangladesh
.
Moreover, Fouad Alkhateeb, contributed to the establishment of the first Islamic bank in Bangladesh in 1983, the Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd
, which attracted other Saudi and Arab investors from the Persian Gulf
area to contribute to its establishment. This bank remains today one of the largest banks in Bangladesh, with over 250 branches, 10,000 employees, and has to successfully funded over 5 million projects throughout Bangladesh since its inception. Additionally, the bank currently holds a large portfolio of Special Projects which aim to serve the country's impoverished and struggling families, which include erecting hospitals, schools, universities, and cultural centers across the country.
Mr. Alkhateeb's final post as a Saudi Ambassador was in Malaysia; soon after, he decided to bring his distinguished foreign diplomatic career to a close and return to his family in Saudi Arabia. Upon his return, he was appointed as the Assistant Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) which was renamed in 2011 to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. He then went on to become Secretary General of the General Council for Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions (CIBAFI) (which was then the International Union of Islamic Banks). Throughout his career and journey in life, he sought serve Islam
, Muslims, and the whole of humanity
.
amongst his family and loved ones; he was laid to rest in the city of his birth, Makkah.
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, the United States of America, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Republic of Turkey, the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, and finally as Saudi ambassador to Malaysia.
Diplomatic career
Mr. AlKhateeb began his diplomatic career as an assistant to his father, Sheikh Abdulhameed AlKhateeb, who was at the time the first Saudi Arabian ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. He was subsequently appointed as the Saudi Chargé d'affaires to the Republic of Iraq, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of BaghdadUniversity of Baghdad
The University of Baghdad is the largest university in Iraq and the second largest Arab university following the University of Cairo.- Nomenclature :Both University of Baghdad and Baghdad University are used interchangeably....
. Soon after, Mr. AlKhateeb was appointed to the position of Counselor within the Saudi Kingdom's embassy in The United States; this appointment spurred his diplomatic career to new heights and he received a succession of other appointments (Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, 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...
, Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, and Malaysia).
It is noteworthy that Sheikh AlKhateeb was the first Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the then-newly independent People's Republic of Bangladesh in 1975, a country fresh from gaining independence from Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
four yearly earlier (The People's Republic of Bangladesh was formerly known as East Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
)
Through his ambassadorship position in 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...
, Mr. AlKhateeb left a lasting impression on the young nation's economic, religious, and humanitarian affairs. In 1981, he founded the Ibn Sina Trust
Ibn Sina Trust
IBN SINA trust is a non-profit welfare Trust in Bangladesh organization. And a group of dedicated social workers inspired by the values of Islam embarked upon a plan to contribute their services to the distressed humanity by undertaking social welfare programs...
and the Ibn Sina Medical Group in Bangladesh as an act of largess, which has grown to become one of the largest medical groups in Bangladesh today, operating multiple hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, medical equipment
Medical equipment
Medical equipment is designed to aid in the diagnosis, monitoring or treatment of medical conditions.-Types:There are several basic types:* Diagnostic equipment includes medical imaging machines, used to aid in diagnosis...
manufacturers, medical colleges, and universities within 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...
.
Moreover, Fouad Alkhateeb, contributed to the establishment of the first Islamic bank in Bangladesh in 1983, the Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd
Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd
Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd. is the pioneer of Islamic banking in Bangladesh. It became incorporated on March 13, 1983. It has 41.77% local and 58.23% foreign shareholders...
, which attracted other Saudi and Arab investors from the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
area to contribute to its establishment. This bank remains today one of the largest banks in Bangladesh, with over 250 branches, 10,000 employees, and has to successfully funded over 5 million projects throughout Bangladesh since its inception. Additionally, the bank currently holds a large portfolio of Special Projects which aim to serve the country's impoverished and struggling families, which include erecting hospitals, schools, universities, and cultural centers across the country.
Mr. Alkhateeb's final post as a Saudi Ambassador was in Malaysia; soon after, he decided to bring his distinguished foreign diplomatic career to a close and return to his family in Saudi Arabia. Upon his return, he was appointed as the Assistant Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) which was renamed in 2011 to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. He then went on to become Secretary General of the General Council for Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions (CIBAFI) (which was then the International Union of Islamic Banks). Throughout his career and journey in life, he sought serve Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, Muslims, and the whole of humanity
Humanity
Humanity may refer to:* The human species**The total world population* Human nature, psychological characteristics that all normal humans have in common**Compassion**Empathy**Altruism**Aggression**Fear...
.
Death
On October 28th, 1995, Sheikh Fouad Alkhateeb passed away in the Saudi city of JeddahJeddah
Jeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
amongst his family and loved ones; he was laid to rest in the city of his birth, Makkah.