Kamal Hossain

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For the kabaddi player, see Kamal Hossain (kabaddi).

Dr. Kamal Hossain (Bangla: কামাল হোসেন), born on 20 April 1937, is a notable Bangladeshi politician, statesman and lawyer. He is credited as being one of the principal authors of the Constitution of Bangladesh. He received a Bachelors degree with honours on jurisprudence from the University of Oxford in 1957. He also received a Bachelor of civil law from there in 1958. He received Barrister at Law degree from Lincoln's Inn, London. In 1964, he received a doctorate degree on international law.

[edit] Political career

Kamal Hossain was arrested in April 1971 and kept in custody in West Pakistan. He was released with Sheikh Mujib as both of them left Pakistan for London. Dr.Hossain served as the Minister of Law (1972-1973), Minister of Foreign Affairs (1973-1975) and Minister of Petroleum and Minerals (1974-1975) in the Government of Bangladesh during the rule of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The constitution of Bangladesh was drafted by him in 1972. Critics argue that the draft was a major copy-work from Pakistani constitution, the evidence of which are still prominent when two constitutions are looked at side by side. But he could not resist the change of the constitution which was made by creating BAKSAL(Bangladesh Krishok Sramik Awamy League) by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He was associated with Awami League until the early 1990s, when he formed his own political party, Gano Forum (People's Forum), following disputes with Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina Wazed.

After leaving Awami League, he competed in several general elections to the Parliament in late 90’s but failed to win. He was also one of the advisors to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He conducted a number of landmark cases which are published in various law journals in Bangladesh. He is also known to have acted against national interest in favor of foreign companies in international disputes.

[edit] Role in international arena

Dr. Hossain is renowned worldwide as a jurist, and has a long association with the United Nations. Between 1998-2003, he served as the UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan. He is a current member of the UN Compensation Commission. He has also been an observer in various elections round the world.