Full Name: Professor Dr. Abdul Qasim Mohammad Badruddoza Chowdhury

Affiliation: Bikalpadhara Bangladesh

Current Position: President

Date of Birth: November 01, 1932

Place of Birth: Bangladesh

Home District: Munshiganj

Constituency: 171, Munshiganj-1

Term: Fifth (2nd-1979, 5th-1991, 6th-1996-15 February, 7th-1996-12 June, 8th-2001)

Nationality: Bangladeshi

Profile:

A Q M Badruddoza Chowdhury (born 01 November 1932) is a Bangladeshi politician, former minister and former Member of Parliament represented Dhaka-6 and Munshiganj-1 constituency. He was the founding Secretary General of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and was the Deputy Prime Minister during the rule of Ziaur Rahman. After the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) came to power in 2001, he became the foreign minister. Shortly afterwards, in 14 November 2001, he took over as President of Bangladesh. In 2002, he made a controversial incident of the President. He was forced to resign from his post in 21 June 2002 and later another political party formed Bikalpadhara Bangladesh. He is a renowned physician. He is also a writer, essayist, playwright, presenter and orator of distinction. He was awarded the National Television Award in 1976.

Chowdhury was born in his maternal grandfather's house in Comilla. His paternal ancestors were from Majidpur Dayhata, Srinagar, Bikrampur (now Munshiganj District). He passed his SSC from St Gregory's School in 1947 and HSC from Dhaka College in 1949. He earned his MBBS degree from Dhaka Medical College in 1954–1955. His father Kafiluddin Chowdhury was a political leader of Awami League, a former General Secretary of the United Front serving as Minister in the United Front provincial cabinet of the then East Pakistan. His mother is Sufia Khatun.

Chowdhury started his career in the medical profession. He served as an associate professor of medicine in Rajshahi Medical College in 1964 and Sir Salimullah Medical College during 1964–1970 and professor of medicine in Sylhet Medical College in 1970. He served as the President of National Anti-Tuberculosis Association of Bangladesh (NATAB), President of International Union Against Tuberculosis of Lung Diseases (IUATLD) of Asia Pacific Zone.

Being inspired by Ziaur Rahman, the founder chairman of the BNP, Chowdhury entered into politics as the Secretary General of the party during its early years. He won the parliament election of 1979 as a BNP nominee from then Dhaka-6 constituency and served as cabinet minister during the years 1979–1982. When the BNP again won parliamentary elections in 1991, after a short stint as Education and Cultural Affairs Minister, he was appointed Deputy Leader of the House of Bangladesh parliament.

Chowdhury was appointed the foreign minister of Bangladesh when BNP party came to power in 2001. In November 2001, he was elected the 13th President of Bangladesh by Jatiyo Sangshad members. Seven months later the incident of him deciding not to visit BNP founder Ziaur Rahman's grave on his death anniversary provoked the party members. They accused him of betraying the party, he met BNP President Khaleda Zia on June 21.He met her at the residence and decided to resign. After resigning from the presidency, Chowdhury also resigned from the BNP. Later, his son Mahi B Chowdhury, elected from Munshiganj-1 constituency, and another BNP MP MA Mannan resigned from the parliament. In March 2004, on the initiative of Chowdhury, they formed a new political party called Bikalpadhara Bangladesh. Chowdhury took over as party President and MA Mannan as Secretary General. The party won Munshiganj-1 seat in the by-election. The party won two seats under the grand alliance in the last 11th general elections.

Chowdhury was awarded the country's highest civilian medal, the Independence Medal, in 1993 in recognition of his contribution to the development of politics and society. He also won the Bangladesh Television Award in 1976 as the best TV presenter.

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