Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury
| The Honourable Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury শিরীন শারমিন চৌধুরী | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury | |
| Speaker of the Jatiyo Sangsad | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 30 April 2013 | |
| Prime Minister | Sheikh Hasina |
| Deputy | Fazle Rabbi Miah |
| Preceded by | Abdul Hamid |
| State minister of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (Bangladesh) | |
| In office 6 January 2009 – 30 April 2013 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 6, 1966 |
| Political party | Bangladesh Awami League |
| Spouse(s) | Syed Ishtiaque Hossain |
| Residence | Dhaka, Bangladesh |
| Alma mater | |
| Religion | Islam |
Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury (born 6 October 1966) is the current and the first woman Speaker of Jatiyo Sangshad since April 2013.[1] At 46 years of age, she is the youngest to assume the office.[1] She previously served as the State Minister of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs of Bangladesh.[2]
Early life
Shirin was born on 6 October 1966. Her father, Rafiqullah Chaudhury, was a Civil Service of Pakistan (CSP) officer and Secretary to the Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1972.[2] Her mother, Naiyar Sultana, was a member of Bangladesh Public Service Commission and the principal of Dhaka College.[1]
Education
Shirin completed her SSC and HSC exams respectively in 1983 and 1985 from Holy Cross Girls' School and College. To study law she joined University of Dhaka and earned her LLB and LLM degrees in 1989 and 1990. She received Commonwealth scholarship to study in University of Essex in UK. In 2000 she earned her PhD degree in constitutional law and human rights. [2]
On July 16 2014, Dr Shirin received an Honorary Ph.D. (Doctor of the University) from University of Essex.
Career
Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, the International Affairs Secretary of the Awami League, was elected MP from one of the parliamentary seats reserved for women on March 24, 2009 and was State minister of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (Bangladesh) until her nomination for Speaker of Jatiyo Sangshad on April 2013. Dr. Shirin was awarded Asia Society’s Humanitarian service Award on 09 June 2010 in recognition of her role as a leader in advocating the elimination of violence against women and mainstreaming women’s empowerment and employment in Bangladesh. Dr. Chaudhury received this award from Ambassador Melanne Verveer,then US Ambassador-at-Large, Global Women Issues in a gala award ceremony at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Washington DC. [3]
On January 28, 2014 Shirin was elected MP from the Rangpur-6 constituency that had been vacated by the Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina after the January 5 elections. Shirin was uncontested in the by-elections and was nominated for Speaker by Awami League the very same day. She took oath as the Speaker of the 10th Parliament on January 29, 2014, becoming the first person to remain Speaker across two consecutive tenures.[4]
She was a practising advocate of the Bangladesh Supreme Court and was one of the members of the lawyers’ panel to conduct the cases filed against Sheikh Hasina during the army-backed caretaker government in 2007-08. Her key areas of work include human rights, constitutional law, gender issues and judicial reviews by way of writs. She is a Resource Person for several institutions including University of Dhaka, BRAC University, Dhaka International University and Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs. [3]
Personal life
Shirin is married to Syed Ishtiaque Hossain, a pharmaceutical consultant.[1] She has a daughter Lamisa (20) and a son Ibtesham (11).
Publications
Dr Shirin served as editor of Bangladesh Legal Decisions (BLD), Law Report Series published every month by Bangladesh Bar Council from 2003 to 2008. She developed several dialogue and concept papers with various relevant NGO's and Human Rights organizations on human rights issues. Her published articles include:
- Role of the Judiciary in the Development of Human Rights, published in 1999, published by Ain O Salish Kendro (ASK)
- The Least Dangerous Branch and the Power of Judicial Review: Impact on the Development of Fundamental Human Rights, published in 2000, published by Ain O Salish Kendro (ASK)
- Right to Life and Its Dimensions, published in 2000, published by Ain O Salish Kendro (ASK)
- Practice of Democracy: Importance of Free and Fair Election in Bangladesh presented as Key Note paper in a Seminar organized by Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs (BILIA), Bangladesh Heritage Foundation
- Electoral Rights: Bangladesh Perspective, Conference Report on Human Rights and Governance, Local and Global Perspective, January 16-18, 2005, Manusher Jonno and Partners
- Regional Position Paper on Status of Women in South Asia written for SAAPE as Regional Thematic Focal Person from Bangladesh. [3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Shirin to become first woman Speaker". bdnews24.com. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "State Minister's Biography". Ministry of Women and Children Affairs - MoWCA. Retrieved 2013-03-23.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Speaker, Bio. "Speaker's Biography". Bangladesh Parliament.
- ↑ "Shirin reelected as speaker". Shirin reelected as speaker. January 29, 2014.
External links
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Shawkat Ali (acting) |
Speaker of Jatiyo Sangshad 2013-present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |