From a teacher to President of Bangladesh
Graphics: Agamir Somoy
As a student, he was a student leader; in his professional life, a teacher; and in the political arena, a combative figure. The BNP has now nominated this grassroots leader, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, for the nation's highest constitutional post—the presidency. The start of Mirza Fakhrul's political journey is somewhat unique. After leaving teaching to enter politics, he rose from a field-level activist to a leader, served as a municipality chairman, and later as a Member of Parliament and minister. Now, he is set to assume the presidency of the country.
Today (Thursday) afternoon, party leaders submitted Mirza Fakhrul's nomination papers as the BNP candidate for the presidency. Widely regarded across all circles as a "gentleman politician," Mirza Fakhrul's nomination for the highest office of the state is seen as an exemplary move by prominent figures. Senior BNP leaders believe that the way Mirza Fakhrul has shielded the party and kept its flag flying during difficult times is unprecedented.
Mirza Fakhrul is set to become the 23rd President of Bangladesh. Many years ago, this veteran politician left the security of a government job behind to choose the path of the street, with the goal of standing by ordinary people.
Since childhood, he was a brilliant student. After completing his primary and secondary education in Thakurgaon, he passed his Higher Secondary Certificate with distinction from Dhaka College. Subsequently, he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in Economics from the University of Dhaka. During his time at Dhaka University, he was actively involved in left-leaning politics. He served as the president of the Dhaka University branch of the then East Pakistan Student Union and was the elected general secretary of S.M. Hall. He played a significant role during the historic mass uprising of 1969 as the president of the Dhaka University Student Union.
After completing his education, he joined the teaching profession. At the start of his career, he was a lecturer in the Economics department at Dhaka College. However, the cause of people's rights and street politics always drew him in. Driven by that calling, he left his job in 1986. In 1988, he won the Thakurgaon municipality election and became its chairman. That marked the beginning of his illustrious political journey.
Mirza Fakhrul was born on January 26, 1948, in the Kalibari area of Thakurgaon town. His father was Mirza Ruhul Amin and his mother was Mirza Fatema Amin. His father was a lawyer. He was a member of the provincial legislature in Pakistan (twice) and a member of the Bangladesh National Parliament. He also served as a minister in the Ershad government.
Mirza Fakhrul's foray into national politics began with Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani's NAP (National Awami Party). Later, he joined the BNP. In 1979, during the rule of Ziaur Rahman, Mirza Fakhrul served as the Private Secretary to the then Deputy Prime Minister, S.A. Bari. In 1992, he became the president of the Thakurgaon district BNP. From there, starting as a member of the party's executive committee, he gradually rose to the position of Senior Joint Secretary General.
From 2011 onwards, Mirza Fakhrul served as the acting Secretary-General of the BNP. In 2016, he was elected Secretary-General at the party's sixth National Council. Before joining the party's top leadership, Mirza Fakhrul had long been the first Vice-President and later President of the BNP's peasant wing, the Jatiyatabadi Kisan Dal.
Mirza Fakhrul's long political journey has been thorny and fraught with challenges. Particularly during the period from the 1/11 political changeover to the long rule of the ousted Awami League, the BNP repeatedly faced repression, persecution, and crises. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was in prison for nearly two years from 2018. Later, due to illness, she remained inactive in politics. On the other hand, the party's Acting Chairman, Tarique Rahman, flew to London in 2008 during the army-backed caretaker government and has been leading the party from there ever since. However, within the country, Mirza Fakhrul led on behalf of both the Chairperson and the Acting Chairman. For this, he had to go to prison on three occasions.
In the prolonged absence of the party's top two leaders, Mirza Fakhrul provided visible leadership during the BNP's crises and in building movements against the Awami League.
In 2001, during Khaleda Zia's government, Mirza Fakhrul served as Deputy Minister for Agriculture and for Private Aviation and Tourism. In Tarique Rahman's government, he was given the portfolio of Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives. In the 13th Parliament, Mirza Fakhrul's seat was right next to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
In 2001, in the 8th National Parliament, Mirza Fakhrul was elected as a Member of Parliament from Thakurgaon-1 constituency under the "Sheaf of Paddy" symbol. In the 2018 11th parliamentary elections, he contested from two constituencies, including Thakurgaon, but was elected MP from Bogra-6. However, alleging widespread vote rigging across the country, the BNP Secretary-General did not take oath as an MP—a rare occurrence in parliamentary history.
In his personal life, Mirza Fakhrul is the head of a happy family, with his wife Rahat Ara Begum and two daughters, Mirza Shamaruh and Mirza Safaruh. His wife, Rahat Ara Begum, was a senior official at a private financial institution. His elder daughter, Mirza Shamaruh, resides in Australia and is a post-doctoral fellow in Sydney. His younger daughter, Mirza Safaruh, works as a teacher at an English-medium school in Dhaka.
