List of presidents of Bangladesh

* Top left: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first president of Bangladesh. He was the president from 17 April 1971 to 12 January 1972 and from 25 January 1975 to 15 August 1975.
* Top right: Ziaur Rahman, the first president elected directly by the people of Bangladesh. He was the president from 21 April 1977 to 30 May 1981.
* Bottom left: Hussain Muhammad Ershad, the last president of Bangladesh directly elected by the people. He was the president from 11 December 1983 to 6 December 1990, a regime known as a dictatorship.
* Bottom right: Mohammad Abdul Hamid, the longest serving president of Bangladesh. He was the president from 14 March 2013 to 24 April 2023.

This article lists the presidents of Bangladesh, and includes persons sworn into the office of President of Bangladesh following the Proclamation of Independence and the establishment of the Provisional Government in 1971.

## Numbering

[edit]

After Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first president of Bangladesh, there is no single numbering system for the subsequent presidents that is universally accepted and followed, even by government representatives. Different sources may calculate the numbering in different ways, depending whether they count acting presidents, how multiple terms are treated, whether the count is by number of terms or number of individuals, and other factors. For example, A. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury, although he served only a single term, has been described in a government publication and in the press as the 16th President of Bangladesh,[1][2] as well as the 15th,[3] the 13th[4] and the 11th.[5]

A list published in 2018 by Bdnews24.com appears to coincide with statements made by the country's Election Committee, making Mohammad Abdul Hamid the 20th President when first elected in 2013,[6] yet contradicts the numbering of a list published in 2016 on the President's own official website.[7] The Bangladesh High Commission, Singapore, in 2018 lists him as the 22nd President.[8] Other reports about previous presidents, including some by Bangladesh's newspaper of record the Daily Star, do not correspond with either list.[9][10]

## List of officeholders

[edit]

Political parties

Awami League (AL)

Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League (BaKSAL)

Jatiyatabadi Ganatantrik Dal (Jagodal) / Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)

Janadal / Jatiya Party (JP(E))

Other affiliations

Independent

Status

Acting president

Symbols

† Died in office

No. | Portrait  | Name
(Birth–Death) | Election  | Term of office  | Political party
(Coalition)

|
|
|
|
|

Took office  | Left office  | Time in office
Provisional Government of Bangladesh (1971–1972)
1  |  | Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
শেখ মুজিবুর রহমান
(1920–1975)
[a] | —  | 17 April 1971  | 12 January 1972  | 270 days  | AL
—  |  | Syed Nazrul Islam
সৈয়দ নজরুল ইসলাম
(1925–1975)
[b] | —  | 17 April 1971  | 12 January 1972  | 270 days  | AL
People's Republic of Bangladesh (1972–present)
2  |  | Abu Sayeed Chowdhury
আবু সাঈদ চৌধুরী
(1921–1987) | —  | 12 January 1972  | 24 December 1973  | 1 year, 346 days  | AL
3  |  | Mohammad Mohammadullah
মোহাম্মদ মুহম্মদুল্লাহ
(1921–1999) | —  | 24 December 1973  | 27 January 1974  | 1 year, 32 days  | AL
1974 | 27 January 1974  | 25 January 1975
(1)  |  | Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
শেখ মুজিবুর রহমান
(1920–1975) | —  | 25 January 1975  | 15 August 1975
(Assassinated in a coup) | 202 days  | BaKSAL
4  |  | Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad
খন্দকার মোশতাক আহমেদ
(1918–1996) | —  | 15 August 1975  | 6 November 1975
(Deposed in a coup) | 83 days  | AL
(with military support)
5  |  | Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem
আবু সাদাত মোহাম্মদ সায়েম
(1916–1997)
[c] | —  | 6 November 1975  | 21 April 1977  | 1 year, 166 days  | AL
(with military support)
6  |  | Ziaur Rahman
জিয়াউর রহমান
(1936–1981)
[d] | 1977[e] | 21 April 1977  | 12 June 1978  | 4 years, 39 days  | Military /
Jagodal /
BNP
1978[f] | 12 June 1978  | 30 May 1981
(Assassinated)
7  |  | Abdus Sattar
আব্দুস সাত্তার
(1906–1985) | —  | 30 May 1981  | 20 November 1981  | 298 days  | BNP
1981[f] | 20 November 1981  | 24 March 1982
(Deposed in a coup)
Post vacant (24 – 27 March 1982)[g]
8  |  | A. F. M. Ahsanuddin Chowdhury
আবুল ফজল মোহাম্মদ আহসানউদ্দিন চৌধুরী
(1915–2001) | —  | 27 March 1982  | 10 December 1983
(Dismissed) | 1 year, 258 days  | Independent
(with military support)
9  |  | Hussain Muhammad Ershad
হুসেইন মুহাম্মদ এরশাদ
(1930–2019)
[h] | 1985[e]
1986[f] | 11 December 1983  | 6 December 1990
(Forced to resign) | 6 years, 360 days  | Military /
Janadal /
JP(E)
—  |  | Shahabuddin Ahmed
শাহাবুদ্দিন আহমেদ
(1930–2022) | —  | 6 December 1990  | 10 October 1991  | 308 days  | Independent
10  |  | Abdur Rahman Biswas
আবদুর রহমান বিশ্বাস
(1926–2017) | 1991 | 10 October 1991  | 9 October 1996  | 4 years, 365 days  | BNP
11  |  | Shahabuddin Ahmed
শাহাবুদ্দিন আহমেদ
(1930–2022) | 1996 | 9 October 1996  | 14 November 2001  | 5 years, 36 days  | Independent
12  |  | A. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury
একিউএম বদরুদ্দোজা চৌধুরী
(1930–2024) | 2001 | 14 November 2001  | 21 June 2002  | 219 days  | BNP
—  |  | Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar
মুহাম্মদ জমির উদ্দিন সরকার
(born 1931) | —  | 21 June 2002  | 6 September 2002  | 77 days  | BNP
13  |  | Iajuddin Ahmed
ইয়াজউদ্দিন আহম্মেদ
(1931–2012) | 2002 | 6 September 2002  | 12 February 2009  | 6 years, 159 days  | Independent
14  |  | Zillur Rahman
জিল্লুর রহমান
(1929–2013) | 2009 | 12 February 2009  | 20 March 2013[†] | 4 years, 36 days  | AL
15  |  | Mohammad Abdul Hamid
মোহাম্মদ আব্দুল হামিদ
(born 1944)[i] | —  | 14 March 2013  | 24 April 2013  | 10 years, 41 days  | AL
2013
2018 | 24 April 2013  | 24 April 2023
16  |  | Mohammed Shahabuddin
মোহাম্মদ সাহাবুদ্দিন
(born 1949) | 2023 | 24 April 2023  | Incumbent[j] | 1 year, 361 days  | AL

## Timeline

[edit]

## See also

[edit]

This article is part of a series on the

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## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Incarcerated in Pakistan till 8 January 1972.
2. ^ Acting in the absence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
3. ^ Also Chief Martial Law Administrator (24 August 1975 – 4 November 1975 and 7 November 1975 – 29 November 1976).
4. ^ Also Chief Martial Law Administrator (29 November 1976 – 6 April 1979).
5. ^ a b Referendum.
6. ^ a b c Direct election.
7. ^ During this period, Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Hussain Muhammad Ershad served as Chief Martial Law Administrator and de facto head of state.
8. ^ Served as Chief Martial Law Administrator until 30 March 1984.
9. ^ Acting for Zillur Rahman until 20 March 2013.
10. ^ Term ends on 24 April 2028.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Karim, M.M. Rezaul (December 2001). "Election 2001: The Triumph of People's Power". Bangladesh Quarterly. Vol. 22\. p. 21\. "AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, who took over as the Foreign Minister after the victory of the 4-party alliance in the parliamentary election of 1 October, was sworn-in as the 16th President of the country at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban on 14 November evening."
2. ^ Country Report: Bangladesh. The Unit. 2001 - via Google Books. "In mid-November parliament chose A Q M Badruddoza Chowdhury, another BNP member and the sole candidate, as the 16th president of Bangladesh, succeeding Shahabuddin Ahmed"
3. ^ "Polls still in doubt as key issues unresolved". The Daily Star. 8 November 2008. Retrieved 1 November 2018. "Badruddoza, the country's 15th president, spoke in favour of increasing the power of the president."
4. ^ Data India – Issues 27-52. Press Institute of India. 2001. p. 1052 - via Google Books. "Psor A Q M Badruddoza Chowdhury, founding secretary-general of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party, was on Nov 14 sworn-in as Bangladesh's 13th President."
5. ^ "New president for Bangladesh". 12 November 2001. Retrieved 29 October 2018 - via BBC News. "Foreign Minister AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury has been elected unopposed as Bangladesh's 11th president."
6. ^ "President Md Abdul Hamid elected for a second term". Retrieved 1 November 2018.
7. ^ সাবেক রাষ্ট্রপতিগণ (সূত্র: মন্ত্রিপরিষদ বিভাগ) [Former Presidents (sources: Cabinet Division)]. President's Office – Bangabhaban (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
8. ^ "Bangladesh High Commission, Singapore". Retrieved 1 November 2018.
9. ^ "Death anniversary of Abu Sayeed Chowdhury today". The Daily Star. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
10. ^ "BNP chalks out programmes marking Zia's birth anniversary". The Daily Star. 18 January 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2018. "BNP will hold a discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh today afternoon, marking party founder Ziaur Rahman's 80th birth anniversary, said a party press release yesterday. ... Born on January 19, 1936 at Bagbari in Bogra, Zia had become the country's 7th president and formed Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)."

## External links

[edit]

* World Statesmen – Bangladesh

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Presidents of Bangladesh (list)

* Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
* Syed Nazrul IslamA
* Abu Sayeed Chowdhury
* Mohammad Mohammadullah
* Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
* Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad
* Abu Sadat Mohammad SayemI
* Ziaur Rahman
* Abdus Sattar
* A. F. M. Ahsanuddin Chowdhury
* Hussain Muhammad Ershad
* Shahabuddin AhmedIA
* Abdur Rahman Biswas
* Shahabuddin Ahmed
* A. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury
* Muhammad Jamiruddin SircarA
* Iajuddin Ahmed
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