Mohammed Nasim (2 April 1948 – 13 June 2020)[1] was a Bangladesh Awami League politician who served as Bangladesh's minister of home affairs and minister of health and family welfare during 1999–2001 and 2014–2019, respectively.[2] He was a 6-term Jatiya Sangsad member representing the Sirajganj-1 and Sirajganj-2 constituencies.[3] He was a presidium member of Awami League and the spokesperson of the 14-party alliance.[4]
Mohammed Nasim | |
|---|---|
মোহাম্মদ নাসিম | |
 Nasim at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi (2016) | |
| Minister of Health and Family Welfare | |
| In office 12 January 2014 – 6 January 2019 | |
| Preceded by | AFM Ruhal Haque |
| Succeeded by | Zahid Maleque |
| Minister of Home Affairs | |
| In office 12 March 1999 – 15 July 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Rafiqul Islam |
| Succeeded by | Altaf Hossain Chowdhury |
| Minister of Post and Telecommunication | |
| In office 23 June 1996 – 15 July 2001 | |
| Preceded by | M Keramat Ali |
| Member of Parliament | |
| In office 9 January 2014 – 13 June 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Tanvir Shakil Joy |
| Succeeded by | Tanvir Shakil Joy |
| In office 28 October 2001 – 27 October 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Mohammad Selim |
| In office 5 March 1991 – 24 November 1995 | |
| Preceded by | Shafiqul Islam |
| In office 10 July 1986 – 6 December 1987 | |
| Constituency | Sirajganj-1 |
| In office 23 June 1996 – 15 July 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Mirza Muraduzzaman |
| Succeeded by | Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku |
| Constituency | Sirajganj-2 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 April 1948 Qazipur, East Bengal, Pakistan |
| Died | 13 June 2020 (aged 72) Dhaka, Bangladesh |
| Cause of death | COVID-19 |
| Nationality | Bangladeshi |
| Political party | Bangladesh Awami League |
| Spouse | Laila Arjumand |
| Children | 3, including Tanvir Shakil Joy |
| Parent |
|
| Relatives | Mohammad Selim (brother) |
| Alma mater | Jagannath College |
Early life
editNasim was born on 2 April 1948, to a Bengali Muslim family of Sarkars hailing from Kuripara in Qazipur, Sirajganj (then under Pabna District), Bengal Presidency.[5] His parents were Muhammad Mansur Ali and Amena Monsur.[2] Ali served as the 3rd prime minister of Bangladesh in 1975 and was one of the four leaders killed in the Dhaka Central Jail as a part of the coup d'état on 7 November 1975.[6] He studied at Edward College in Pabna. He was a leader of Chhatra Union, the student wing of Communist Party. In 1966, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman went to Pabna for six point movement rally after which he visited the home of Mansur Ali where he learned Nasim was a leader of Chhatra Union. At Rahman's request, Nasim attended a program of Chhatra League, the student wing of Awami League, and subsequently joined the organization. In 1967, Nasim was elected to the Edward College Students' Union.[7]
Nasim moved to Dhaka in 1969 and got admitted to Jagannath College. During the Bangladesh Liberation war, Nasim worked for the Mujibnagar government, the Bangladesh government in exile, in which his father was a minister.[7] He graduated in political science from the college.[8]
Career
editNasim became the joint secretary of Pabna District unit of Awami League after the independence of Bangladesh in 1971. He sought the nomination of Awami League for the 1973 parliamentary election but lost out to a more senior politician. He was made a presidium member of Bangladesh Jubo League, the youth wing of Awami League. Following the formation of BAKSAL in 1975, he was appointed its general secretary. He fled to India after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the 15 August 1975 Bangladesh coup d'état. His father was arrested and subsequently killed extrajudicially in prison. Nasim was imprisoned on his return to Bangladesh.[7]
In 1982, Nasim was made a presidium member of the Awami League. He was elected to the parliament for the first time in 1986, representing the Sirajganj-1 constituency. He was re-elected in 1996 from the same constituency.[7]
Nasim was appointed public works, post and telecommunications minister in June 1996.[9] He took over the home ministry as well when the incumbent Rafiqul Islam was sacked in March 1999.[10] On 12 November 2006, he was injured after police baton charged a rally of Awami League.[11]
In February 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) published a list of 50 top corrupt suspects which included Nasim's name.[12][13] The 50 were asked to submit their wealth statements at the ACC office within 72 hours of receiving the notification.[12] Nasim was arrested by the joint forces on 5 February 2007.[14][15][16] On 8 October, he was sentenced to 13 years in jail by a special anti-graft court. His wife, Laila Arzumand Banu, was also sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment for aiding him in amassing the wealth illegally.[17]
Following the charges and convictions, Nasim did not get the Awami League nomination at the 2008 Bangladeshi general election. Instead, Nasim's son, Tanvir Shakil Joy, got the nomination and won the election.[18]
Nasim was elected to the parliament from Sirajganj-1 in 2014.[19] He was appointed the minister of health and family affairs.[20]
Personal life and death
editNasim and Laila Arjumand Banu had three sons including Tanvir Shakil Joy.[2]
On 1 June 2020, Nasim was hospitalized in Dhaka after testing positive for COVID-19.[21] Four days later, he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage during his treatment.[22] On 13 June, he died while being treated at the hospital.[1][23]
References
edit- ^ a b Shawon, Ali Asif (13 June 2020). "Senior Awami League leader Mohammed Nasim dies at 72". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ a b c "Hon'ble Minister". Bangladesh National Portal. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- ^ "Constituency 62_11th_En". Bangladesh Parliament. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
- ^ "Nasim calls for political unity to solve Rohingya crisis". The Daily Star. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
- ^ "In Memorium". SMA Medical College. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- ^ "Nasim tests COVID negative, but condition remains critical". The Financial Express. Dhaka. 9 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Mohammed Nasim: A life in politics". Dhaka Tribune. 13 June 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ "Press Information Department, Government of Bangladesh". pressinform.portal.gov.bd. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
- ^ Hunter, B. (2016). The Statesman's Year-Book 1997-8. Springer. p. 188. ISBN 9780230271265.
- ^ "Bangladesh home minister sacked". BBC News. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
- ^ "In memory of Mohammed Nasim". bdnews24.com. 13 June 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ a b "50 given 72 hours to submit wealth report". The Daily Star. 19 February 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
- ^ "List of 50". The Daily Star. 19 February 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
- ^ "Midnight crackdown on 'corrupt' politicians". The Daily Star. 5 February 2007. Archived from the original on 5 September 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ "Tarique held at midnight : Ex-health minister Mosharraf, Ctg Mayor Mohiuddin, Jamaat's ex-MP Tahir, Janakantha editor Masud also held; raid on Sudha Sadan". The Daily Star. 5 February 2007. Archived from the original on 4 June 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
- ^ "The Fall of the Titans". Star Weekend Magazine. The Daily Star. 2 February 2007. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ "Former Bangla home minister sentenced". Hindustan Times. 8 October 2007. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
- ^ "Poll dreams over for many AL stalwarts". The Daily Star. 18 November 2008. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ "Mohammad Nasim -মোহাম্মদ নাসিম History". Amarmp. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- ^ "People to decide on BNP's vision: Nasim". The Daily Star. 14 May 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- ^ "Former health minister Mohammed Nasim tests Covid-19 positive". The Daily Star. 1 June 2020.
- ^ "Former Health Minister Nasim suffers brain haemorrhage during corona treatment". The Financial Express. Dhaka. 5 June 2020.
- ^ "Mohammed Nasim, AL leader and former health minister, dies at 72". Bdnews24.com. 13 June 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.