KristalBabbage2 at 17:16, 18 February 2026

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{{Short description|President of Bangladesh from 2002 to 2009}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Iajuddin Ahmed
| image = Iajuddin Ahmed at Zia International Airport in Dhaka (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| office = [[President of Bangladesh]]
| primeminister = [[Khaleda Zia]] ''Himself'' ([[Chief Adviser of Bangladesh|acting]]) [[Fazlul Haque (judge)|Fazlul Haque]] (acting) [[Fakhruddin Ahmed]] (acting) [[Sheikh Hasina]]
| term_start = 6 September 2002
| term_end = 12 February 2009
| predecessor = [[Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar]] (acting)
| successor = [[Zillur Rahman]]
| office1 = [[Chief Adviser of Bangladesh]]
| term_start1 = 29 October 2006
| term_end1 = 11 January 2007
| predecessor1 = [[Khaleda Zia]] (as [[Prime Minister of Bangladesh|Prime Minister]])
| successor1 = [[Fazlul Haque (judge)|Fazlul Haque]] (acting)
| office2 = Chairman of the [[Bangladesh Public Service Commission]]
| term_start2 = 14 September 1991
| term_end2 = 31 January 1993
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1931|2|1}}
| birth_place = [[Munshiganj District|Bikrampur]], [[Bengal Presidency|Bengal]], [[British Raj|British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2012|12|10|1931|2|28}}
| death_place = [[Bangkok]], Thailand
| resting_place = [[Banani Graveyard]]<ref name=amardesh/>
| party = [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
| spouse = {{marraige|[[Anwara Begum (academic)|Anwara Begum]]|1953}}<ref name=bdnews24>{{cite news |title=Ex-President Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed dies |url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2012/12/10/ex-president-iajuddin-ahmed-dies |newspaper=[[bdnews24.com]] |date=10 December 2012 |access-date=10 December 2012}}</ref>
| children = 3<ref name="newstrackindiadeath">{{cite web |url=http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2012/12/10/242-Bangladeshi-ex-President-Iajuddin-Ahmed-passes-away-.html |title=Bangladeshi ex-President Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed passes away |publisher=News Track India |date=10 December 2012 |access-date=10 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |script-title=bn:সাবেক রাষ্ট্রপতি ইয়াজউদ্দিন আহম্মেদকে বনানীতে দাফন : রাষ্ট্রীয়ভাবে প্রটোকল দেয়া হয়নি বলে অভিযোগ গুলশান জামে মসজিদে আজ কুলখানি |url=http://www.amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2012/12/14/177814#.UMxmuVLvnKR |language=bn |newspaper=[[Amar Desh]] |access-date=15 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215231610/http://www.amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2012/12/14/177814#.UMxmuVLvnKR |archive-date=15 February 2015}}</ref>
| alma_mater = [[University of Dhaka]] [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]]
| caption = President Iajuddin Ahmed in 2002
| honorific_prefix =
| native_name = {{nobold|ইয়াজউদ্দিন আহম্মেদ}}
| native_name_lang = bn
| predecessor2 = S. M. Al Hussaini
| president2 = Shahabuddin Ahmed [[Abdur Rahman Biswas]]
| successor2 = [[S. M. A. Foyaz]]
| president1 = ''Himself''
| appointer2 = [[Shahabuddin Ahmed]]
| office3 = Chairman of the [[University Grants Commission (Bangladesh)|University Grants Commission]]
| term_start3 = 8 April 1995
| term_end3 = 7 April 1999
| predecessor3 = Shamsul Hoque
| successor3 = A.T.M. Jahirul Hoque
}}
'''Iajuddin Ahmed'''{{efn|{{langx|bn|ইয়াজুদ্দিন আহমেদ|Iājuddin Ahméd}} {{IPA|bn|ˈiɑd͡ʒudːin ˈaɦmed|}}}} (1 February 1931{{snd}}10 December 2012) was the [[president of Bangladesh]], serving from 2002 to 2009.

With a doctorate in soil science, Ahmed became a full professor at the [[University of Dhaka]] and chairman of the department. Beginning in 1991, he started accepting appointments to public positions, as chairman of the Public Service Commission (1991 to 1993) and of the University Grants Commission (1995 to 1999). In 2002, he won election as president. In 2004, he helped establish the private university, [[Atish Dipankar University of Science and Technology]] (ADUST).

==Early life and education==
Ahmed was born on 1 February 1931 to a [[Bengalis|Bengali]] family in the village of Nayagaon in [[Bikrampur]], [[Bengal Presidency]]. He was the son of the [[Muslim]] cleric Maulavi Muhammad Ibrahim. Ahmed passed his [[matriculation]] from Munshiganj High School in 1948 and his [[Intermediate of Arts]] from Haraganga College from [[Munshiganj]] in 1950. He obtained his [[Bachelor of Science|B.Sc]] and [[Master of Science|M.Sc]] from the Department of Geology, [[University of Dacca]] in 1952 and 1954, respectively. He later received his MS and PhD degrees in 1958 and 1962, respectively, from the [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]] in the United States.<ref name="bio">{{cite web |url=http://www.mofa.gov.bd/president.htm |title=President's Life Sketch |website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810115053/http://www.mofa.gov.bd/president.htm |archive-date=10 August 2007}}</ref>

==Teaching==
Returning to the University of Dhaka, Ahmed joined the faculty as an assistant professor in the Department of Soil Science. He moved up in the ranks until he became a full professor in the department. He held the posts at the university of chairman of the Soil Science Department of [[Dhaka University]] and dean of the Faculty of Biological Science, Dhaka University. He was also [[Provost (education)|provost]] of Salimullah Muslim Hall.

Ahmed is credited with developing a process that preserved nutrients in soil and later released them according to the needs of the vegetation. In 1984, Professor Ahmed was a visiting professor at [[Cornell University]] in the United States and the German Technical University and [[University of Göttingen]] in Germany.

==Political career==
Ahmed was an adviser in the [[caretaker government]] of 1991. He was also chairman of the Public Service Commission from 1991 to 1993. He served as chairman of the University Grants Commission from 1995 to 1999.<ref name="bio"/>

During the 1990s, Professor Ahmed was the president of the Federation of University Teachers Association in Bangladesh (FUTA). He led the anti-autocratic movement.{{Citation needed|date= March 2022}}

===Presidency===
Ahmed became President of Bangladesh in 2002 after becoming the only candidate to register for presidential elections. By that time, the position of prime minister was considered the top political role in the Bangladesh government.

During his presidency, Ahmed directed the writing and publication of two books about the nation, ''Hundred Years of Bangabhaban'' and ''Bangabhabaner Shatabarsha.'' These were published in 2006 by [[Bangabhaban]]'s press wing, under the initiative of his advisor, [[Mukhlesur Rahman Chowdhury]].<ref>{{cite news |date=15 February 2006 |title='Hundred Yrs of Bangabhaban' launched |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/02/15/d60215061482.htm |volume=5 |number=610 |newspaper=The Daily Star |access-date=10 December 2012}}</ref>

===Chief Advisor, 2006–2007 Caretaker Government===
{{main|2006-2008 Bangladeshi political crisis}}
According to the constitution, the immediate past Chief Justice is appointed as Chief Advisor during a caretaker government. After Justice KM Hasan declined the position, reportedly because of ill health, five other men were considered for the position.
The last option was for the President to take over, as provided for in the constitution.{{Citation needed|date= March 2022}} Ahmed was sworn in as the Chief Advisor of the Caretaker Government at 8:00 pm (Bangladesh standard time) on 29 October 2006 after the main political parties failed to agree on another candidate. The opposition parties resisted his appointment, because he had been elected by the majority-BNP parliament. Iajuddin Ahmed as Chief Advisor was to oversee the [[2007 Bangladeshi parliamentary election|forthcoming elections]], planned for 22 January 2007, while continuing his responsibilities as president.{{Citation needed|date= March 2022}}

Sheikh Hasina of the [[Awami League]] and her allies demanded Ahmed's resignation, but he declined.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bangladesh President rules out resigning |url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2006/12/15/wld07.asp |url-status=dead |work=Daily News |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] |date=15 December 2006 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130221022611/http://www.dailynews.lk/2006/12/15/wld07.asp |archive-date=21 February 2013 |access-date=10 December 2012}}</ref> At first, the Awami League and its allies announced they would [[election boycott|boycott the planned election]] because of BNP influence.

The President's advisor, Mukhlesur Rahman Chowdhury, met with Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia in an attempt to convince both parties to take part in the election.<ref>{{cite news |date=30 November 2006 |title=Iajuddin wants to open talks with alliances; Sends Mokhles to Hasina, Khaleda |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/11/30/d6113001129.htm |newspaper=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]] |access-date=10 December 2012}}</ref> Finally on 23 December, they both agreed to participate in the 22 January 2007 polls.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} At the last minute, on 3 January, Awami League and its allies withdrew from the election, jeopardising the country's stability.<ref name="bbcdisaster">{{cite news |last=Rahman |first=Waliur |date=8 January 2007 |title=Is Bangladesh heading towards disaster? |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6241263.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=11 January 2007}}</ref> The European Union and UN withdrew its election overseers.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

Concerned that a one-party election would jeopardise the nation's lucrative participation in United Nations' peacekeeping mission and that the caretaker government would have difficulty resisting takeover by the BNP, the military intervened on 11 January 2007. A group including General [[Moeen U Ahmed]], Army Chief, persuaded<ref>{{cite news |title=UN warned army against coup |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-201433 |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=7 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Quadir |first1=Fahimul |last2=Tsujinaka |first2=Yutaka |date=2015 |title=Civil Society in Asia: In Search of Democracy and Development in Bangladesh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h1sdCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA5 |publisher=Ashgate Publishing |page=5 |isbn=978-1-4724-2331-3}}</ref> Iajuddin Ahmed to declare a [[state of emergency]] and resign, appointing an Interim Chief Advisor. Opponents of the military intervention were concerned about the threat to democracy, but many others were relieved to have professional technocrats leading efforts to stabilise the country and reduce corruption in the government. On 12 January, Fakruddin, formerly with the [[World Bank]], was appointed as Chief Advisor.<ref name="economist">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.economist.com/asia/2007/01/18/the-coup-that-dare-not-speak-its-name |title=The coup that dare not speak its name |magazine=[[The Economist]] |date=18 January 2007 |access-date=10 December 2012 |quote=Iajuddin Ahmed, Bangladesh's president, declared an army-backed state of emergency on January 11th and cancelled the election due on January 22nd ... The president stood down as head of the caretaker government that had been supposed to oversee the elections. He was replaced by Fakhruddin Ahmed, a former central-bank governor and World Bank official. The technocratic administration he heads has so far sent the right signals. A drive against corruption ... the state of emergency has supporters even among some liberal democrats.}}</ref>

===Resignation as Chief Adviser===
On 11 January 2007, President Ahmed resigned from his position as Chief Advisor of the Caretaker Government, having already received the resignations of his advisors. He retained his position as president and responsibilities for the Defense Ministry in the caretaker government. He issued a statement acknowledging that the Election Commission and his government had been unable to achieve an election. He appointed the former Justice [[Fazlul Haque (judge)|Fazlul Haque]] as Interim Chief Advisor and imposed a state of emergency.<ref>{{cite news |date=12 January 2007 |title=Emergency declared; Iajuddin quits as chief adviser |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/2007/01/12/d7011201011.htm |newspaper=The Daily Star |access-date=10 December 2015 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304094753/http://archive.thedailystar.net/2007/01/12/d7011201011.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> The next day, in consultation with the military, Ahmed appointed [[Fakhruddin Ahmed]] as the new Chief Advisor. He is a prominent banker who had been with the World Bank and Bangladesh National Bank.{{Citation needed|date= March 2022}}

Iajuddin Ahmed's term as president was due to end on 5 September 2007. The government announced at that time that he would remain in office until after [[2008 Bangladeshi general election|the national election]] (planned by then to be held by late 2008). This was to elect new members of parliament, who would elect a president.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ahmed |first=Parveen |date=5 September 2007 |title=Bangladesh president's term will continue until successor chosen, government says |agency=[[Associated Press]] |quote=Ahmed's term as president normally would end on Sept. 5 ... However, 'the constitution also says that he will have to continue until his successor is elected, after an elected government takes over,' ... Officials have promised to hold new elections after a new voter list is completed, expected sometime before the end of 2008.}}</ref>

The Awami League and its Grand Alliance won two-thirds of the seats in parliament. It formed a government in 2009, headed by [[Sheikh Hasina]] as prime minister. Ahmed left office on 12 February 2009, after [[Zillur Rahman]], an Awami League leader, was sworn in to succeed him as President of Bangladesh.

==Bypass operation==
On the afternoon of 23 May 2006, President Ahmed was admitted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka. Sources said he was seriously ill and being treated by a team of elite doctors. On their advice, President Ahmed was taken to Singapore on Wednesday, 24 May 2006. The 75-year-old president underwent a successful by-pass heart operation at the [[Mount Elizabeth Hospital]] in Singapore.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Karim |first1=Rezaul |last2=Liton |first2=Shakhawat |date=25 June 2006 |title=Bangabhaban now houses acting, resting presidents |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/06/25/d6062501022.htm |newspaper=The Daily Star |access-date=15 February 2015}}</ref> During President Ahmed's illness and recovery, in May–July 2006, rumours were reported in the media that he had died, or was going to be removed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cablegatesearch.net/cable.php?id=06DHAKA3725 |title=Cable reference id: #06DHAKA3725 |publisher=Cablegatesearch |access-date=10 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509144034/http://www.cablegatesearch.net/cable.php?id=06DHAKA3725 |archive-date=9 May 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Ahmed and his second wife, [[Anwara Begum (academic)|Anwara Begum]], adopted a son, Imtiaz Ahmed Babu. Ahmed also has children from his first marriage: Susan and Adam. He has a total of four grandchildren: Aurora, Beryl, Adam and Arin.<ref name="bio"/>

Imtiaz Babu was arrested on 9 January 2012 on assault charges, for having attacked the registrar at the [[Atish Dipankar University of Science and Technology]], a private university founded by his father. Babu is on the trustee board of ADUST.<ref>[http://zeenews.india.com/news/south-asia/b-desh-ex-president-s-son-held-on-assault-charges_751593.html "B'desh: Ex-President's son held on assault charges"], ''ZeeNews (India)'', 9 January 2012, Accessed on 24 March 2013</ref>

==Illness and death==
Ahmed had additional heart surgery on 28 October 2012.<ref name="TimesofIndiaDeath">{{cite news |date=10 December 2012 |title=Bangladesh's controversial ex-President Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed passes away |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/Bangladeshs-controversial-ex-President-Iajuddin-Ahmed-passes-away/articleshow/17558510.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121221073111/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-10/south-asia/35725921_1_interim-government-bnp-sheikh-hasina |url-status=live |archive-date=21 December 2012 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=10 December 2012}}</ref> After developing [[kidney]]-related complications, he spent more than a month on life support<ref name="TimesofIndiaDeath" /> before dying on 10 December 2012 at [[Bumrungrad International Hospital]] in [[Bangkok]], Thailand.<ref name=bdnews24/><ref name="TimesofIndiaDeath"/>

Statements of mourning were issued by President Zillur Rahman, Prime Minister [[Sheikh Hasina]], Leader of the Opposition [[Khaleda Zia]]<ref name="ds11Dec2012">{{cite news |title=Iajuddin passes away |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=260754 |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=11 December 2012 |access-date=11 December 2012}}</ref> and former Advisor to the President [[Mukhlesur Rahman Chowdhury|Mukhles Chowdhury]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pbc24.com/index.php/news/news-details?news_id=12943 |script-title=bn:ড. ইয়াজউদ্দিন আহম্মেদের ইন্তেকালে এম মোখলেসুর রহমান চৌধুরীর শোক |publisher= |language=bn |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107001701/http://www.pbc24.com/index.php/news/news-details?news_id=12943 |archive-date=7 January 2014 |access-date=11 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://sylheteralap.com/news/category/foregien%20news/detail/32945 |script-title=bn:আহম্মেদের ইন্তেকালে গভীর শোক প্রকাশ করেছেন:বাংলাদেশের সাবেক রাস্ট্রপতির উপদেস্টা এম মোখলেসুর রহমান চৌধুরী |publisher= |language=bn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212031945/http://sylheteralap.com/news/category/foregien%20news/detail/32945 |archive-date=12 December 2012 |access-date=11 December 2012}}</ref> Iajudiin Ahmed's body was transported to Dhaka from Bangkok on 12 December 2012.

Four ''[[namaz-e-janaza]]s'' were held for him. His first was held in Bangkok<ref name="ds11Dec2012" /> on 11 December 2012, the second namaz-e-janaza at his ancestral home in [[Munshiganj]] on 13 December,<ref>{{cite news |title=Iajuddin's janaza held in Munshiganj |url=http://www.banglanews24.com/English/detailsnews.php?nssl%3Dc225873006fb2679019ea8b81e9bd278%26nttl%3D2012121259690%26toppos%3D6 |url-status=dead |work=[[Banglanews24.com]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130118174410/http://www.banglanews24.com/English/detailsnews.php?nssl=c225873006fb2679019ea8b81e9bd278&nttl=2012121259690&toppos=6 |archive-date=18 January 2013 |access-date=13 December 2012 }}</ref> the third janaza in [[Dhaka University]] Central Masjid, and the fourth and last one was at [[Baitul Mukarram]] national masjid. Ahmed was buried in Banani graveyard.<ref name=amardesh>{{cite news |date=13 December 2012 |script-title=bn:সাবেক রাষ্ট্রপতি ইয়াজউদ্দিন আহম্মেদকে বনানীতে দাফন |trans-title=President Iajuddin Ahmed was buried at Banani |url=http://www.amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2012/12/14/177814#.UMyDNFLvnKT |language=bn |newspaper=[[Amar Desh]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215231610/http://www.amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2012/12/14/177814#.UMyDNFLvnKT |archive-date=15 February 2015}}</ref>

==References==
'''Footnotes'''
{{Notelist}}
{{reflist|group=note}}
{{Prime Ministers of Bangladesh}}

'''Citations'''
{{Reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[President of Bangladesh]]|years=2002–2009}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Zillur Rahman]]}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Khaleda Zia]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Prime Minister of Bangladesh]] {{small|Acting}}|years=2006–2007}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Fazlul Haque (judge)|Fazlul Haque]] {{small|Acting}}}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Morshed Khan]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Bangladesh)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]]|years=2006–2007}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Presidents of Bangladesh}}
{{Prime ministers of Bangladesh}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ahmed, Iajuddin}}
[[Category:1931 births]]
[[Category:2012 deaths]]
[[Category:Ministers of foreign affairs of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:People from Bikrampur]]
[[Category:Presidents of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:University of Dhaka alumni]]
[[Category:University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Ekushey Padak]]
[[Category:Burials at Banani Graveyard]]
[[Category:Advisers of Shahabuddin Ahmed ministry]]
[[Category:Chief advisors of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Chairmans of University Grants Commission of Bangladesh]]

Iajuddin Ahmed - Revision history

KristalBabbage2 at 17:16, 18 February 2026