Akbar Hossain

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Akbar Hossain Bir Protik (born 1941, died 25 June 2006) was a veteran of the Bangladesh Liberation War and a Minister in three Bangladesh governments.

[edit] Military career

Hossain was born in Kashari Patty in Comilla District, he joined the army at Kakul Military Academy in Pakistan in May 1966, after his commission he was posted to the 31 Baluch Regiment. While serving he studied for his BA at the University of Dhaka, receiving it in 1969. Hossain joined the War of Independence in 1971 first under Khaled Musharraf and then with the Z force headed by Ziaur Rahman. He was decorated for gallantry, receiving the 'Bir Protik' for his role in the War. After independence was won, he took voluntary retirement from the Bangladesh Army at the end of December 1973, after attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

[edit] Political career

He then became actively involved in politics and helped form the United People's Party (UPP) in January, 1974. He went on to become the Vice-President of the UPP. In 1977, the UPP merged with the Jatiyatabadi Front, Hossain left and joined in the with the formation of the Bangladesh National Party (BNP). He was first made Special Secretary and then held the position of Joint Secretary General and was one of the Vice-Presidents of the BNP up until his death. In 1978 he was made Minister for Petroleum and Mineral Resources under the government of President Ziaur Rahman. Hossain was first elected a Member of the Bangladesh Parliament in 1979, he represented the Comilla 8th constituency in the 2nd Jatiyo Sangshad elections, a seat he was re-elected to four times.
During the military dictatorship of General Hossain Mohammad Ershad, Akbar Hossain was jailed on five separate occasions for coming into conflict with the regime.
After the ending of the military dictatorship and the election of Khaleda Zia, the country's first female Prime Minister. Hossain returned to government as Minister for the Environment and Forests in October 1993.
In October 2001 he was appointed Minister for Shipping after the BNP led four-party alliance won the 8th Jatiyo Sangshad elections, with a two-thirds majority and Khaleda Zia became the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for the third time.

He died in Dhaka aged 65 following a massive cardiac arrest.