As per the twelfth amendment of theBangladeshi constitution passed after the1990 mass-uprising, the role of the president is largely ceremonial. He was re-elected in2018, making him the country's first president to be re-elected.[6][7] After serving for a total 10 years and 41 days, his tenure ended in 2023 and he was succeeded byMohammed Shahabuddin.[1] In his last day of presidency, he told journalists that he will retire from active politics, and taking any more position would be "humiliating the people of this country".
He is noted for leading a simplistic lifestyle, even during his time inBangabhaban. His is also known for his witty, humorous approach, with his speeches as president, mainly as chancellor of universities in Bangladesh becoming widely popular. Some of his remarks, however, were deemed sexist by some. As president, he oversaw the controversial2014 and2018 parliamentary elections, and signed many criticised bills and decisions passed by the AL-led parliaments and theHasina government, and controversially commuted some serious convicts from their sentences.[8][9] However, he remained comparatively accepted across the political spectrum.[10][9]
After theJuly Uprising and thefall of Hasina's increasingly authoritarian government, Hamid was often described as a potential new leadership for the AL, though it was never confirmed by any sides. As part of the cases filed en-masse against AL and previous government affiliates, his name was also included in a murder case. On 8 May 2025, news emerged of his sudden departure to Thailand in the midnight "for medical treatment" after months of silence, triggering large hue and cry fromNational Citizen Party (NCP) and other pro-July socio-political platforms.Home Adviser of theInterim governmentJahangir Alam Chowdhury announced drastic measures, including attempts to issueInterpol notice for Hamid.Selina Hayat Ivy, formerMayor of Narayanganj, who was one of the few AL leaders to stay in their homes after the uprising and was considered to be of "clean image" like Hamid, was arrested despite the protests of hundreds of locals against it. As tensions grew, AdviserAsif Mahmud announced plans to ban AL-affiliatedJubo League andSwechchhasebak League. On the midnight of 9 May, demonstrations demanding a complete ban on AL started in the leadership of NCP in front ofJamuna, the residence ofChief AdviserMuhammad Yunus, and then a blockade ofShahbag whereJamaat-e-Islami joined the protests, in a symbolic retaliation to2013 Shahbag movement. On 10 May, the government eventually announced a total ban on all activities of Awami League and all its related organisations, even restricting "expression of support". Hamid eventually returned to Bangladesh a month later, trashing all allegations of fleeing, and the government took a u-turn not arresting him saying "no innocent will should be prosecuted".
Hamid was born in Kamalpur village,Mithamain Upazila underKishoreganj District to Mohammad Tayebuddin and Tomiza Khatun.[4] He started his early education in the village primary school. After finishing primary education, he went to his relative's house in Bhairabpur and joined Bhairab K.B. Pilot High School for secondary education. Abdul Hamid passed anI.A. andB.A. fromGurudayal Government College in Kishoreganj. He obtained the degree ofLL.B. from Central Law College which is now affiliated with theUniversity of Dhaka.[4][11] He then joined Kishoreganj Bar as an advocate. He was President of the Kishoreganj District Bar Association five times during 1990–96.[4]
Hamid joinedChhatra League in 1959 whilst a student inKishoreganj, as the vice-president of Gurudayal Government College. He was also elected the vice-president of the Chhatra League ofMymensingh District Unit in 1966–67.[12] At the end of 1969, he joined theAwami League. In the1970 Pakistan general election, Abdul Hamid was elected as the Member of Parliament for the Mymensingh-18 constituency; he was the youngest person elected. In the general elections of 1973, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, and 2009 he was elected as Member of Parliament forKishoreganj-5 constituency as a nominee of the Awami League. He was the Deputy Speaker of the National Parliament of Bangladesh when an Awami League government was in office from 1996 to 2001. On 25 January 2009, he became theSpeaker of the National Parliament.[13] For his contribution to theBangladesh Liberation War in 1971, he received theIndependence Award in 2013.[14]
Mohammad Abdul Hamid meeting withprime minister Modi at Bangabhaban on 7 June 2015
Hamid was appointed actingpresident of Bangladesh on 14 March 2013, while PresidentZillur Rahman was in hospital in Singapore. Zillur Rahman died six days later.[15] Later, Abdul Hamid was elected unopposed as president on22 April 2013. He was sworn into office on 24 April.[12] He was requested by then opposition leaderKhaleda Zia among others to resolve thepolitical crisis in 2013, but Hamid expressed his inability due to his constitutional role. On 7 February 2018, he was re-elected unopposed for a second term.[6]
Following theJuly Revolution in August 2024, he was charged in January 2025 with assaulting protesters, although he was not shown arrested in that case.[17] In February, Abdul Hamid's house was vandalized during theBulldozer Program.[18]
Abdul Hamid’s departure for Thailand on 8 May 2025, officially described as a medical trip, sparked widespread controversy, with critics alleging that he was allowed to leave to avoid facing trial.[19] Media reports claimed that several government figures facilitated his smooth exit through the VIP terminal, prompting public protests and the suspension or dismissal of several officials.[20] Political leaders and student groups demanded accountability, leading to heightened tensions and calls for action against those responsible.[21] He returned to Bangladesh on 9 June 2025 after a month long treatment.[22]
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