Zunaid Ahmed Palak
Zunaid Ahmed Palak | |
---|---|
জুনাইদ আহ্মেদ পলক | |
Minister of State for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology | |
In office 12 January 2014 – 6 August 2024 | |
Prime Minister | Sheikh Hasina |
Preceded by | Position Established |
Succeeded by | Nahid Islam as Adviser |
Member of the Bangladesh Parliament for Natore-3[1] | |
In office 7 January 2009 – 6 August 2024 | |
Preceded by | Kazi Golam Morshed |
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting | |
In office 7 January 2019 – 19 May 2019 | |
Prime Minister | Sheikh Hasina |
Preceded by | Tarana Halim |
Succeeded by | Murad Hasan |
Personal details | |
Born | Singra, Rajshahi, Bangladesh | 17 May 1980
Political party | Awami League |
Occupation | Politician |
Criminal Information | |
Criminal status | Arrested, awaiting trials |
Criminal charge | Crimes against humanity during Student–People's uprising, corruption, extortion, embezzlement |
Zunaid Ahmed Palak (born 17 May 1980) is a prominent member of Awami League and Sheikh Hasina's toppled regime currently in custody of Bangladesh Police for his involvement in July massacre.[2] He is a former Minister of State for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, and served as a member of the Jatiya Sangsad, representing the constituency of Natore-3.
Early Life and Education
[edit]Zunaid Ahmed Palak was born on May 17, 1980, into a Bengali Muslim family in the village of Serkol-Teligram, located in the Singra Upazila of Natore District, Bangladesh. His father, Fayez Ahmed, was a politician and telephone exchange operator, while his mother, Zamila Ahmed, dedicated her time to managing the household.[3]
Palak's educational journey began at Singra Damdama Primary School, followed by his completion of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) at Singra Damdama Pilot High School in 1995. He furthered his studies by obtaining his Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) from Rajshahi College in 1997. Subsequently, he pursued a degree in political science at Dhaka College and earned his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Gol-E-Afroz Government College, affiliated with the National University of Bangladesh. Additionally, Palak completed the Capstone Course at the National Defence College.[3]
Career
[edit]Palak was appointed Minister of State for Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Bangladesh on 12 January 2014, at the age of 34 years, making him the youngest Minister of Bangladesh.[4][5] He is also the first minister ever to be born in the independent Bangladesh.[6] He was nominaas a "Young Global Leader" in 2016 by the World Economic Forum. Also nominated as "World's 100 Most Influential People in Digital Government" 2018 by Apolitical, a London based international organization.At the age of 36, he got the nomination from the Bangladesh Awami League, in 2006 the National Elections of 2006. In 2008, he was nominated again, and was elected by a large margin, becoming the youngest member of the ninth National Assembly of Bangladesh.[7] In June 2017, he was nominated as chairman of the Advisory Committee of International Association of Students in Economic and Commercial Sciences (AIESEC), Bangladesh chapter.[8] In his early twenties, he followed his father's footsteps in politics and became a member of the Bangladesh Awami League party.[9]
Ahmed also was a committee member where he planned to incorporate "Green Technologies" into its office building principles, to reduce carbon emissions into the environment. He said that the building of offices and residences using green technology would not release any carbon in the environment, while the wastes would be recycled and produce energy. He also expressed that a delegation from India was on their way to discuss different technological issues including the building of zero carbon emitting buildings. He further added:[10]
We asked the ministry concerned to take a pilot project to build its office building using green technology as part of the initiative. Several other lawmakers and I shared our experience of recent visit to the southern state of Karnataka and West Bengal of India where we saw offices and houses were built using green technology.
Palak has been president of the Bangladesh Carrom Federation since 2009, and vice president of the International Carrom Federation since 2011.[11]
Personal life
[edit]Palak is married to Arifa Jesmin Konika, with whom he has two sons.[12][13][14]
Controversies
[edit]During the Student–People's uprising, Sheikh Hasina's regime implemented an internet shutdown, which was associated with widespread unrest and the subsequent resignation of Sheikh Hasina from the Office of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Zunaid Ahmed Palak made several statements regarding the internet shutdown that received criticism from netizens. He attributed the shutdown to fires caused by "miscreants" and denied any government involvement, claims that were later found to be inaccurate.[15][16][17]
Following the restoration of broadband internet on 23 July 2024, his office restricted access to Facebook and TikTok. Despite these restrictions, Palak was noted to be active on both platforms, which led to additional criticism.[18]
On 6 August 2024, after Sheikh Hasina's escape to India, Palak attempted to travel to New Delhi, India. However, he was stopped from boarding his flight by staff at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka and was taken into custody by immigration authorities.[15][19]
References
[edit]- ^ "Those who are new state ministers". The Daily Star. 6 January 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- ^ "Two cases filed against 23 people including Hasina for crimes against humanity". unb.com.bd. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Timeline - Zunaid Ahmed Palak". Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ "About - Zunaid Ahmed Palak MP". Archived from the original on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ "Bangladesh to end nationwide mobile internet shutdown; students vow to resume protest". The Times of India.
- ^ "Zunaid-Ahmed-Palak-MP". lict.gov.bd.
- ^ "Protect S Asian water resources". The Daily Star. 1 September 2009.
- ^ "Palak nominates as Chairman of AIESEC Advisory Committee". Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha. Archived from the original on 11 June 2017.
- ^ "Early life of Zunaid Ahmed Palak".
- ^ "'Green office' planned in ICT ministry". The Daily Star. 25 January 2010.
- ^ "Leveraging ICT". Leveraging ICT.
- ^ "Palak's assets leap 140 times, wife's 167 times". New Age (Bangladesh). 10 December 2023. Archived from the original on 10 December 2023.
- ^ "State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak watches 'Priyotoma' with family". The Daily Star. 3 July 2023.
- ^ "Zunaid Ahmed Palak, his two sons test positive for Covid-19". The Business Standard. 5 January 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Palak detained at airport". Prothomalo. 6 August 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ "Residential internet services to resume tonight: Palak". Somoy TV.
- ^ "খাজা টাওয়ারে ডাটা সেন্টারের কোনো ক্ষতি হয়নি: মুঠোফোন গ্রাহক অ্যাসোসিয়েশন". jjdin. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ "Why state minister Palak active on Facebook despite restrictions?". Prothomalo. 28 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ "Palak detained at Dhaka airport while attempting to flee to Delhi". Dhaka Tribune. 6 August 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
External links
[edit]- Media related to Zunaid Ahmed Palak at Wikimedia Commons
- List of Bangladesh Parliament Members
- List of Bangladesh Parliament Members (Bengali) Archived 6 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- Activity Report of All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Climate Change and Environment
- 1980 births
- Living people
- People from Natore District
- Politicians from Rajshahi Division
- Awami League politicians
- Rajshahi College alumni
- Dhaka College alumni
- State ministers of information of Bangladesh
- State ministers of posts, telecommunications and information technology
- 9th Jatiya Sangsad members
- 10th Jatiya Sangsad members
- 11th Jatiya Sangsad members
- Carrom people
- Bangladeshi people of Mughal descent
- 12th Jatiya Sangsad members