Edhem Bičakčić (3 May 1884 – 31 December 1941) was a Bosnian politician who became the only Mayor of Sarajevo to serve two nonconsecutive terms, first from 1928 to 1929, then again from 1935 to 1939. He was a close associate of Mehmed Spaho and a member of the Yugoslav Muslim Organization. Bičakčić died suddenly of a heart attack, aged 57.
Edhem Bičakčić | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 9th Mayor of Sarajevo | |
| In office 1935 – c. March 1939 | |
| Preceded by | Ibrahim Šarić |
| Succeeded by | Muhamed Zlatar |
| In office October 1928 – 1929 | |
| Preceded by | Ibrahim Hadžiomerović |
| Succeeded by | Asim-beg Mutevelić |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 May 1884 Sarajevo, Condominium of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria-Hungary |
| Died | 31 December 1941 (aged 57) Sarajevo, Kingdom of Yugoslavia |
| Political party | Yugoslav Muslim Organization |
| Spouse | Razija |
Early life and family
editBičakčić was born on 3 May 1884 in Sarajevo, Austria-Hungary, in what is today Bosnia and Herzegovina, to a Bosniak merchant family. His paternal uncle Salih Bičakčić was an Ottoman statesman and one of the leaders of the resistance against the Austro-Hungarian Empire. For his involvement in the resistance, Edhem's uncle was tried before the court-martial of General Josip Filipović, and eventually acquitted due to lack of evidence.[1] Following the acquittal, Salih returned to Sarajevo where he and his brother, Edhem's father, established several banks in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Young Edhem worked on the construction of a small hydropower plant in Hrid, near Sarajevo, on the banks of the Miljacka river.[2]
World War I
editCBS News and the Associated Press reported in 2010 that a postcard sent by Bičakčić, dated 13 June 1915, was discovered by a retired jeweler who purchased it at an antique fair in Long Beach, California.[3][4] Bičakčić had sent a black-and-white photograph as a postcard to his wife Razija, parents and daughters Zekija and Čamka while serving in Hungary during World War I from the town Villány.[5][6][7] The Bosnian American jeweler who discovered the postcard after 95 years, was visiting his native Sarajevo in June 2010 when he coincidentally met Bičakčić's grandson while looking around a local antique shop in downtown Sarajevo.[8] Because the grandson had the same last surname as Edhem Bičakčić, the jeweler presented the postcard to the grandson, who immediately recognized his grandfather on the photograph.[9][10]
Politics
editBičakčić was elected as the 9th Mayor of Sarajevo in October 1928,[11] taking over for Ibrahim Hadžiomerović. His term lasted one year. He was re-elected as mayor in 1935 and stayed on post until 1939. Bičakčić was the only mayor of Sarajevo to serve two nonconsecutive terms.[12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "KRIZA TRESE, A STIGAO I CIRKUS COLUMBIA". Kliker. 25 June 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- ^ "Intervju: Kriza trese, a stigao i cirkus Columbia". Oslobođenje. 25 June 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- ^ "Postcard Reaches Soldier's Family After 95 Years". CBS News. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- ^ "Razglednica stigla u Sarajevo posle 95 godina". RTS. 19 June 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- ^ "Razglednica je do Sarajeva putovala dugih 95 godina". 24 sata. 20 June 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- ^ "WWI Postcard Reaches Bosnia After Century of Traveling Around the Globe". Balkan Insight. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- ^ "Razglednica stigla na odredište posle 95 godina". Blic. 19 June 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- ^ "First World War Bosnian postcard finally reaches family". Telegraph. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- ^ "Pismo bosanskog vojnika nakon 95 godina stiglo na adresu". Klix. 19 June 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- ^ "Ratno pismo stiglo u Sarajevo posle 95 godina". Vesti. 21 June 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- ^ Donia, Robert J. (2006). Sarajevo: A Biography; pages 150-151. ISBN 9780472115570. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- ^ "Sarajevski gradonačelnici: 1878-2012". Radio Sarajevo. 20 October 2012. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2015.