Moudud Ahmed
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Barrister Moudud Ahmed was born on May 24, 1940. He was the 6th child (4th son) of late Maulana Momtaz Uddin Ahmed and late Begum Ambia Khatun. He successfully graduated from Dhaka University and then went to Lincoln's Inn in the United Kingdom to earn his barrister-at-law degree. After obtaining his law degree, he returned to Bangladesh and started practicing in the High Court. He was also a "Freedom Fighter" for Bangladesh in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War against Pakistan. Barrister Moudud married Hasna Moudud, daughter of legendary "Polli Kobi" Jashimuddin. He had three children, two sons and a daughter, but his eldest son died at a very young age .
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[edit] Politics
He was Minister and Adviser to the President Ziaur Rahman from 1977-1979. In 1979 he was elected for the first time the Member of the Parliament and was made the Deputy Prime Minister. In May 1980, Ziaur Rahman was assassinated and within a year there was a military coup led by Hossain Mohammad Ershad. In 1985 an election was held and once again Moudud Ahmed was elected Member of Parliament and consequently was made the Minister for Communication. A year later, in 1986, he was again made the Deputy Prime Minister. In 1988, he became the Prime Minster and the Leader of the House (Parliament). In 1989 he was made the Industry Minister and also the Vice-President to Hossain Muhammad Ershad (H. M. Ershad). Finally the reign of Ershad came to an end in December 1990 due to an unstoppable protest from millions of citizens. During the Ziaur Rahman and H. M. Ershad era Moudud Ahmed was Minister of Ministries for Industries; Planning; Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs; Special Affairs; Energy; Water Resources and Flood Control; Communication-Railways, Roads and Highways; Post, Telegraph and Telephones. Once again he was elected Member of Parliament in the 1991 election with Ershad's ticket. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) succeeded in that election. In 1996 after Awami League came to power, he left Jatiya Party and joined BNP and became a member of the BNP standing Committee. He was elected Member of Parliament in the 2001 election in which BNP was victorious. He was once again made minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs during BNP's tenure (2001 - 2006). He has been a consistent candidate from Noakhali.
Besides being minister of different ministries he also assisted late Army General Ziaur Rahman in forming BNP. He was one of the founding members of the party. He also played a vital role in the formation of Jatiya Party which belongs to another Army General H. M. Ershad.
[edit] Fellowships
He has earned fellowships of:
- Oxford University: Queen Elizabeth House, 1993
- Harvard University: Center for International Affairs, 1980-1981
- Fairbank Asia Center, 1998
- Heidelberg University: South Asian Institute, 1976, 1980, 1996
He was Bland Visiting Professor at:
- The George Washington University: Elliott School of International Affairs (ESIA) , Fall 1997.
He is a member of The Elliott School International Council.
[edit] Publications
- South Asia: Crisis of Development-The Case of Bangladesh, University Press Limited, Dhaka, 2003
- Democracy and the Challenge of Development: a Study of Politics and Military Interventions in Bangladesh, University Press Limited, Dhaka, 1995
- Bangladesh: Era of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, South Asian Institute of Heidelberg University and University Press Limited, Dhaka, 1983
- Bangladesh: Constitutional Quest for Autonomy, South Asian Institute of Heidelberg University, 1976 and University Press Limited, Dhaka, 1979
[edit] Current status
Barrister Moudud Ahmed is a practicing lawyer in Supreme Court of Bangladesh. Undoubtedly, he is one of the most powerful lights in Bangladeshi Politics.
