Bangabhaban held a state ceremony today to bid farewell to outgoing President Md. Abdul Hamid. In the 52- year history of Bangladesh this has been the first time that a head of state has been given the honor of farewell at Bangabhaban.
Md. Abdul Hamid handed over the responsibility of the nation's highest constitutional position to Md. Sahabuddin, the new president. He is the first person in Bangladesh to have served as president for two consecutive terms for a long time of 10 years and 41 days. This is a rare instance in the 52-year history of Bangabhaban.
Earlier for the first time Md. Abdul Hamid became the President in-charge on March, 14 2013 when the then president Zillur Rahman was under treatment in Singapore. After the death of Zillur Rahman, he became the acting President on March 20, 2013.
Later, on April 22, 2013, he was officially elected president without any opposition.
He joined the student front group Chhatra League in 1959, which was the beginning of his political career. At the end of 1969, he joined the Awami League.
In the Ninth Parliament, Abdul Hamid was chosen as speaker and held the position from 2009 until 2013.
Abdul Hamid is a veteran politician and parliamentarian who was an elected Member of Parliament (MP) for seven times since the country's independence in 1971.
