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Syed Abul Hossain

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For other people with similar names, see Abul Hossain (disambiguation).

Syed Abul Hossain
সৈয়দ আবুল হোসেন
Minister of Information and Communication Technology
In office
6 December 2011 – 12 August 2012[1]
Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byMostafa Faruk Mohammad
Minister of Communications
In office
6 January 2009 – 6 December 2011
Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina
Preceded byNazmul Huda
Succeeded byObaidul Quader
State Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives
In office
23 June 1996 – 17 August 1997
Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina
Succeeded byMofazzal Hossain Chowdhury
Member of Parliament
for Madaripur-3
In office
5 March 1991 – 24 November 1995
Preceded bySheikh Shahidul Islam
Succeeded byGanesh Chandra Haldar
In office
14 July 1996 – 24 January 2014
Succeeded byTowfiquzzaman Shaheen
Personal details
Born(1951-08-01)1 August 1951
Madaripur, Dhaka Division, East Bengal, Pakistan
Died25 October 2023(2023-10-25) (aged 72)
Dhaka, Bangladesh
NationalityBangladeshi
Political partyBangladesh Awami League
Spouses
Khwaja Nargis Hossain
​
​
(m. 1979)​
Children
Alma materUniversity of Dhaka

Syed Abul Hossain (1 August 1951 – 25 October 2023) was a Bangladeshi businessman and politician. He was the managing director and chairman of SAHCO International Ltd.[2] He served as a member of the Bangladesh Parliament (Jatiya Sangsad) for four terms during 1991–1995 and 1996–2014 representing the Madaripur-3 constituency.[3][4][5] He served as the minister of information and communication technology (2011–2012), minister of communications (2009–2011) and state minister of local government, rural development and co-operatives (1996–1997).[6][7][8]

Background and education

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Abul Hossain was born on 1 October 1951[9] to a Bengali Syed family in the village of Dasar, Madaripur. His parents were Syed Atahar Ali and Syeda Sufia Ali. In business management, Abul Hossain completed his bachelor's degree from the University of Dhaka in 1972, and also completed his master's degree in 1974.[10]

Business and political career

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After completing his education, Abul Hossain joined government service and later ventured into business. He founded and was the chief of SAHCO International Ltd.[11][12]

Abul Hossain was elected as a member of the Jatiya Sangsad in four general elections: in 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2008. He also served as communication minister from 2009 to 2012,[13][14] and the minister of information and communication technology.[15] He was the international affairs secretary of the Bangladesh Awami League during 1991–2012.[2]

Padma Bridge controversy

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Main article: Padma Bridge graft scandal

In an investigation by Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Canadian construction company SNC-Lavalin had offered bribes to at least six Bangladeshis, including Abul Hossain, to obtain the consultant's job in the Padma bridge project.[16] The RCMP shared the information with the Anti-Corruption Commission of Bangladesh (ACC).[16] Following the findings, the World Bank alleged that Abul Hossain was a conspirator in the graft scandal regarding the bridge construction project.[17] Abul Hossain denied the allegations that he misused his position as a minister. He resigned from his office on 23 July 2012 (effective 23 August 2012).[1] He was acquitted in 2014 by the Bangladeshi courts and the Anti-Corruption Commission.[18][19]

The Canadian case was dropped in 2017 after Judge Ian Nordheimer found that the RCMP did not have sufficient evidence to justify their initial wiretap,[18] although Abul Hossain had already been acquitted by a lower Canadian court.[20]

Syed Abul Hossain resigned from his post as communication minister due to alleged complain of corruption conspiracy in awarding the contract of Supervision consultancy of Padma Bridge project. Abul Hossain was subjected to extensive scrutiny in Bangladesh and aboard. However, no evidence was found against him. Eventually, the Bangladesh Anticorruption Commission, after detailed investigation and inquiry, found nothing against the accused and dismissed the case. The Canadian case was dropped in 2017 after Judge Ian Nordheimer found that the RCMP did not have sufficient evidence to justify their initial complaint. He dismissed the case and all the accused in the case were acquitted of the charges. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina supported Abul Hossain and termed him as a patriot. Abul Hossain was part of her entourage during the inauguration of Padma Bridge on 25 June 2022 and was seen next to her. His contribution is well-noted in finishing the initial work design, land acquisition, etc. of Padma Bridge project in record time. Abul Hossain was also instrumental in creating the initial plan and project development for Dhaka Elevated Expressway, Karnafuli Tunnel, Metro Rail etc.

Personal life

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Abul Hossain married Begum Khwaja Nargis in September 1979. They have two daughters, Rubaiyat Hossain and Iffat Hossain.[10]

Abul Hossain founded educational institutions including Kalkini Syed Abul Hossain University College, Syed Abul Hossain College, D.K. Ideal Syed Atahar Ali Academy and College, Khaserhat High School and College, Mostafapur High School and College, Sheikh Hasina Academy and Women's College and Syed Abul Hossain Academy.[10] In 2019, he received the Bidyashagar Award in Kolkata.[21]

Death

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Syed Abul Hossain was admitted to the United Hospital Limited in Dhaka after suffering a cardiac arrest on 24 October 2023. He later died while undergoing treatment. Hossain was 72.[22][23]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Zillur accepts Abul Hossain's resignation". bdnews24. 23 August 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  2. ^ a b "SAHCO Security Ltd". Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  3. ^ ৭ম জাতীয় সংসদে নির্বাচিত মাননীয় সংসদ-সদস্যদের নামের তালিকা (PDF). Jatiya Sangsad. Government of Bangladesh. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 September 2015.
  4. ^ ৮ম জাতীয় সংসদে নির্বাচিত মাননীয় সংসদ-সদস্যদের নামের তালিকা (PDF). Jatiya Sangsad. Government of Bangladesh. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 September 2018.
  5. ^ ৯ম জাতীয় সংসদে নির্বাচিত মাননীয় সংসদ-সদস্যদের নামের তালিকা. Jatiya Sangsad. Government of Bangladesh.
  6. ^ "Quader gets Abul's job". The Daily Star. 6 December 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  7. ^ Liton, Shakhawat; Rashidul Hasan (16 September 2012). "MKA replaces Shahara". The Daily Star. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Cabinet Division - Bangladesh - Information and Services - List of Ministers and Advisors". Cabinet.gov.bd. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Constituency 220". Bangladesh Parliament. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  10. ^ a b c "Personal Biography". Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  11. ^ "A travesty of truth". Daily Sun. 1 November 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  12. ^ Byron, Rejaul Karim (15 October 2011). "WB names Abul, his firm". The Daily Star. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  13. ^ "Former communications minister Syed Abul Hossain dies". Dhaka Tribune. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  14. ^ "Ex-minister Abul Hossain dies". New Age. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Syed Abul Hossain no more - Front Page". The Daily Observer. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  16. ^ a b "Padma bridge bribe was ready for 6". The Daily Star. 21 June 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  17. ^ Khan, Sharier; Azad, M Abul Kalam (11 July 2014). "Failed company to get $0.78b Padma job". The Daily Star.
  18. ^ a b "Acquittal sparks call for apology". The Daily Star. 12 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  19. ^ "Abul Hossain: Allegations against me were complete lies". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  20. ^ "Court throws out Padma Bridge case". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  21. ^ "Abul Hossain receives Bidyashagar Award in India". bangladeshpost.net. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  22. ^ "Former communications minister Abul Hossain no more". The Daily Star. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  23. ^ সাবেক যোগাযোগমন্ত্রী সৈয়দ আবুল হোসেন মারা গেছেন. Channel i (in Bengali). 25 October 2023.
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