The United Nations in Bangladesh congratulated Mohammed Shahabuddin on becoming the 22nd president of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
“We wish the president-elect Mohammed Shahabuddin success in assuming his new responsibilities and congratulate the people of Bangladesh for having him as the new President of the republic,” the organization said in a statement.
“We hope the UN will extend its partnership with Bangladesh under his leadership to achieve Bangladesh's commitments towards implementing the Sustainable Development Goals and the UN charter,” it added.
Shahabuddin was born in 1949 and had a distinguished political career from a young age, starting in his student years.
Shahabuddin completed his MSc degree from Rajshahi University in 1974. Then he obtained an LLB degree in 1975 from the same institution.
Hailing from Pabna, a northern district of Bangladesh, Shahabuddin has served various political and state roles.
He served as the president of the Pabna District unit Chattra League and Jubo League in the 1970s.
During the Liberation War in 1971, Shahabuddin was a key player in the northern region, serving as a student leader and the convener of the Swadhin Bangla Chattra Sangram Parishad.
Along with former Awami League presidium member Mohammad Nasim, he played a crucial role in the Pabna district during the war.
Shahabuddin started his career in Judicial Service in 1983 and was a district judge till 2006. He also discharged his duties as chairman of the Labour Court in 2006, lawyer of the Supreme Court from 2008-2011 and commissioner of the ACC from 2011-2016.
He successfully performed various important assignments during his service period including member of a judicial inquiry committee, chairman of the Judicial Inquiry Commission and a lot more.
He was inducted into the Awami League Advisory Council in January 2020.
Two years later, in January 2022, he was made chairman of the party's publicity and publication subcommittee, a post that had fallen vacant after the death of PM's political advisor HT Imam.
He also worked as a journalist for Daily BanglarBani from 1980-1982.
He is engaged in various social, educational and cultural organizations in the country.
The tenure of Md Abdul Hamid, the longest-serving president of the country, will expire on April 23, and according to the constitution, there is no scope for a third term.
Senior Awami League leader and seven-time lawmaker Md Abdul Hamid was elected president in the last two elections. He was sworn in for his second term on April 24, 2018.
