DebraToney89 at 00:55, 27 April 2026

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{{Short description|Bangladeshi politician and industrialist (born 1950)}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2026}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = [[The Honourable#Bangladesh|The Honourable]]
| honorific_suffix = [[Member of Parliament (Bangladesh)|MP]]
| name = Iqbal Hassan Mahmood
| native_name = {{nobold|ইকবাল হাসান মাহমুদ}}
| native_name_lang = bn
| image = Iqbal Hassan Mahmood (Sunday, 31 August 2025) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Mahmood in 2025
| office = [[Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources|Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources]]
| prime_minister = [[Tarique Rahman]]
| term_start = 17 February 2026
| predecessor = [[Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan]] {{small|(as Adviser)}}
| office1 = [[Member of Parliament (Bangladesh)|Member of Parliament]]
| constituency1 = [[Sirajganj-2]]
| term_start1 = 17 February 2026
| predecessor1 = [[Jannat Ara Henry]]
| office2 = [[Member of Parliament (Bangladesh)|Member of Parliament]]
| constituency2 = [[Sirajganj-2]]
| term_start2 = 28 October 2001
| term_end2 = 27 October 2006
| predecessor2 = [[Mohammed Nasim]]
| successor2 = [[Rumana Mahmood]]
| office3 = [[Member of Parliament (Bangladesh)|Member of Parliament]]
| predecessor3 = ''Constituency created''
| successor3 = [[Mirza Muraduzzaman]]
| constituency3 = [[Sirajganj-2]]
| term_start3 = 10 July 1986
| term_end3 = 6 December 1990
| office4 = [[Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources|State Minister of Power]]
| prime_minister4 = [[Khaleda Zia]]
| term_start4 = 10 October 2001
| term_end4 = 20 May 2006
| predecessor4 = [[Rafiqul Islam (Bangladeshi politician)|Rafiqul Islam]]
| successor4 = [[Anwarul Kabir Talukdar]]
| office5 = [[Ministry of Agriculture (Bangladesh)|State Minister of Agriculture]]
| prime_minister5 = [[Khaleda Zia]]
| term_start5 = 21 May 2006
| term_end5 = 29 October 2006
| predecessor5 = [[Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir]]
| successor5 = ''Vacant''
| party = [[Bangladesh Nationalist Party]] {{small|(1990–present)}}
| other_party = [[Jatiya Party (Ershad)|Jatiya Party]] {{small|(1986–1990)}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|05|10|df=y}}
| birth_place = Koyelgati, [[Sirajganj]], [[East Bengal]], [[Dominion of Pakistan]]
| spouse = [[Rumana Mahmood]]
| children = 2
| parents = [[Abdullah al Mahmood]] (father)
| relatives = [[M. A. Matin (Pabna-5 politician)|M. A. Matin]] (brother-in-law)<br>[[M. A. Muhit]] (nephew)
| alma_mater = [[University of Dhaka]]
| occupation = {{hlist|Politician|Industrialist}}
}}

'''Iqbal Hassan Mahmood''' ({{langx|bn|ইকবাল হাসান মাহমুদ}}; born 10 May 1950), also known as '''Tuku''', is a Bangladeshi politician and industrialist. A member of the [[Bangladesh Nationalist Party]] (BNP) National Standing Committee, he has been elected to the [[Jatiya Sangsad]] from [[Sirajganj-2]] on four occasions and has served as the [[Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources|minister of power, energy and mineral resources]] since February 2026.<ref name="dt-profile2025">{{cite news |title=Iqbal Hasan Mahmud: BNP stands by parliamentary democracy |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/politics/390208/iqbal-hasan-mahmud-tuku-bnp-stands-by |work=[[Dhaka Tribune]] |date=29 August 2025 |access-date=9 April 2026}}</ref><ref name="tbs-gazette">{{cite news |title=Gazette reveals what Tarique's cabinet looks like |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/gazette-reveals-what-tariques-cabinet-looks-1364766 |work=[[The Business Standard]] |date=18 February 2026 |access-date=9 April 2026}}</ref> He previously served as [[Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources|state minister of power]] from 2001 to 2006 and as [[Ministry of Agriculture (Bangladesh)|state minister of agriculture]] in 2006.<ref name="bdnews24-power2026">{{cite news |title=Power Minister Iqbal orders seamless electricity during Ramadan |url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/bd9c8a80d972 |work=[[bdnews24.com]] |date=18 February 2026 |access-date=9 April 2026}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Mahmood was born on 10 May 1950 into a [[Bengali Muslim]] family of [[Taluqdar|Taluqdars]] in the village of [[Sirajganj Sadar Upazila|Koyelgati]] in Sheyalkol Union, [[Sirajganj District|Sirajganj]], the son of [[Abdullah al Mahmood]] and Abeda Khatun.<ref name="bss-bio">{{cite news |title=Biography of Power, Energy & Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood |url=https://www.bssnews.net/others/373583 |work=[[Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha]] |date=1 April 2026 |access-date=9 April 2026}}</ref><ref name="jugantor-profile">{{cite news |title=সিরাজগঞ্জের সিংহপুরুষ বিদ্যুৎমন্ত্রী টুকুর বর্ণাঢ্য জীবন |trans-title=The colourful life of Sirajganj's lion, power minister Tuku |url=https://www.jugantor.com/politics/1067888 |work=[[Jugantor|Daily Jugantor]] |language=bn |date=19 February 2026 |access-date=9 April 2026}}</ref> His father was a politician who served as the [[Ministry of Industries and Production|minister of industries and natural resources of Pakistan]].<ref name="jugantor-profile" />

Mahmood completed his early education in Sirajganj before studying at the [[University of Dhaka]], where he earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology with honours and later completed a master’s degree in 1975 with honours.<ref>{{Cite web |title=পাকিস্তানের মন্ত্রী ছিলেন বাবা, ছেলে বাংলাদেশের |url=https://www.jugantor.com/tp-city/1068020 |access-date=2026-04-11 |website=Jugantor |language=bn}}</ref>

== Business career ==
Mahmood built his business career through the Apex Group, where he was a founding director and held senior executive roles in several of its export-oriented companies.<ref name="bss-bio" /> He was among the early Bangladeshi industrialists involved in exporting garment products to Europe, and was associated with the group’s expansion into textiles, leather and footwear, frozen foods, and home textiles. Within the group, he served as managing director of Apex Weaving & Finishing Mills Limited and held senior positions at Apex Tannery Limited, Apex Foods Limited, and Apex Spinning & Knitting Mills Limited.<ref name="tbs-apex">{{cite news |title=Sonali Bank auctions Apex Weaving's assets to recover Tk390cr loan |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/stocks/sonali-bank-auctions-apex-weavings-assets-recover-tk390cr-loan-854541 |work=The Business Standard |date=19 May 2024 |access-date=9 April 2026}}</ref>

Outside the private sector, Mahmood served as a director of Bangladesh Shilpa Rin Sangstha, the state industrial financing institution, and was president of the [[Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry]].<ref name="dcci-board">{{cite web |title=Previous Board of Directors |url=https://dhakachamber.com/dcci-allpastmanagement |website=[[Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry]] |access-date=9 April 2026}}</ref>

== Political career ==
=== Student politics and Liberation War ===
As a student, Mahmood was active in the East Pakistan Students' Union and took part in the [[Eleven Points Programme|11-point movement]] of 1969 against the government of [[Ayub Khan]]. He later fought in the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]] in 1971.<ref name="bss-bio" />

=== Parliament and cabinet ===
Mahmood was first elected to parliament from Sirajganj-2 as a [[Jatiya Party (Ershad)|Jatiya Party]] candidate in 1986 and was re-elected in 1988.<ref name="bdnews24-power2026" /> After the fall of [[Hussain Muhammad Ershad]] in 1990, he joined the [[Bangladesh Nationalist Party]].<ref name="jugantor-profile" />

He returned to parliament from Sirajganj-2 in the [[2001 Bangladeshi general election|2001 general election]]. In the cabinet of Prime Minister [[Khaleda Zia]], he served as [[Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources|state minister of power]] from October 2001 to May 2006 and as [[Ministry of Agriculture (Bangladesh)|state minister of agriculture]] from May to October 2006.<ref name="bdnews24-power2026" />

On 19 June 2019, Mahmood was made a member of the BNP National Standing Committee.<ref name="newage-standing2019">{{cite news |title=Selima, Tuku made BNP standing committee members |url=https://www.newagebd.net/article/75887/selima-tuku-made-bnp-standing-committee-members |work=[[New Age (Bangladesh)|New Age]] |date=19 June 2019 |access-date=9 April 2026}}</ref>

In the [[2026 Bangladeshi general election|2026 general election]], Mahmood was again elected from Sirajganj-2.<ref name="parliament-current">{{cite web |title=Current Parliament Members |url=https://www.parliament.gov.bd/members/list-of-members?page=1&search=Mahmood&searchBy=name&view=current |website=[[Bangladesh Parliament]] |access-date=9 April 2026}}</ref> On 17 February 2026, he was sworn in as minister of power, energy and mineral resources in the cabinet of Prime Minister [[Tarique Rahman]].<ref name="tbs-gazette" />

== Legal proceedings and exile ==
In March 2007, after a [[Coup d'état|military coup]] and amid the [[2006–2008 Bangladesh political crisis|2006-2008 political crisis]], the [[Anti-Corruption Commission (Bangladesh)|Anti-Corruption Commission]] (ACC) filed a case against Mahmood, alleging that he had amassed {{BDT}}2.57 crore through illegal means and concealed information in his wealth statement. On 15 November 2007, a special court convicted him and sentenced him to nine years' imprisonment and a fine of {{BDT}}50 lakh.<ref name="newage-hc2023">{{cite news |title=HC upholds jail of Tuku, Aman in 2007-08 cases |url=https://www.newagebd.net/article/202945/hc-upholds-jail-of-tuku-aman-in-2007-08-cases |work=New Age |date=30 May 2023 |access-date=9 April 2026}}</ref>

Mahmood appealed the verdict. In June 2011, the [[High Court Division]] acquitted him of the charges, but in January 2014, during the [[Premiership of Sheikh Hasina|Sheikh Hasina government]], the [[Anti-Corruption Commission (Bangladesh)|ACC]] appealed and the [[Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh|Appellate Division]] set aside the acquittal and ordered a fresh hearing.<ref name="tbs-arrest2023">{{cite news |title=Arrest warrant issued against BNP leader Tuku in graft case |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/court/arrest-warrant-issued-against-bnp-leader-tuku-graft-case-698674 |work=The Business Standard |date=11 September 2023 |access-date=9 April 2026}}</ref>

In May 2023, the High Court again upheld the conviction and original sentence.<ref name="newage-hc2023" /> BNP leaders claim this was a politically motivated false conviction.<ref name="dt-bnpcriticism2023">{{cite news |title=BNP criticizes remand of Chand, jailing of Aman, Tuku |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/politics/312416/bnp-criticizes-remand-of-chand-jailing-of-aman |work=Dhaka Tribune |date=30 May 2023 |access-date=9 April 2026}}</ref> After the judgment was released, Mahmood went into exile.<ref name="tbs-arrest2023" /> After the [[July Uprising]], in October 2024, he returned to Bangladesh.<ref name="dt-return2024">{{cite news |title=Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku returns home after long exile |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/politics/360994/iqbal-hasan-mahmud-tuku-returns-home-after-a-long |work=Dhaka Tribune |date=6 October 2024 |access-date=9 April 2026}}</ref>

In September 2025, the Appellate Division acquitted Mahmood of all charges, overturning the conviction.<ref name="dt-acquit2025">{{cite news |title=Tuku acquitted of 9-year prison sentence in ACC case |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/court/390696/bnp-leader-tuku-acquitted-from-nine-year-prison |work=Dhaka Tribune |date=4 September 2025 |access-date=9 April 2026}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Mahmood is married to [[Rumana Mahmood]], a former member of parliament.<ref name="bss-bio" /><ref name="newage-rumana2025">{{cite news |title=Ex-Sirajganj MP Abdul Mannan dies |url=https://www.newagebd.net/post/country/270485/ex-sirajganj-mp-abdul-mannan-dies |work=New Age |date=19 July 2025 |access-date=9 April 2026}}</ref> They have a son and a daughter.<ref name="bss-bio" /><ref name="newage-hc2023" /> His brother-in-law was former deputy prime minister [[M. A. Matin (Pabna-5 politician)|M. A. Matin]], and Matin's son [[M. A. Muhit]] is Mahmood's nephew.<ref name="dailystar-inlaws2008">{{cite news |title=Fight between in-laws puts relatives in dilemma |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-67613 |work=The Daily Star |date=17 December 2008 |access-date=9 April 2026}}</ref> In 2026, Mahmood and Muhit joined the cabinet of Prime Minister [[Tarique Rahman]].<ref name="bdnews24-uncle2026">{{cite news |title=Sirajganj uncle–nephew duo get cabinet call |url=https://bdnews24.com/national-election-2026/87ecc97fa9aa |work=bdnews24.com |date=17 February 2026 |access-date=9 April 2026}}</ref> Mahmood's daughter is married to the son of [[Sheikh Selim]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pratidin |first=Bangladesh |title=আত্মীয়তার যত বন্ধনে বিএনপি আওয়ামী লীগ {{!}} বাংলাদেশ প্রতিদিন |url=http://www.bd-pratidin.com/special/2014/12/18/50542 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321081612/http://www.bd-pratidin.com/special/2014/12/18/50542 |archive-date=2019-03-21 |access-date=2026-04-11 |work=Bangladesh Pratidin |language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahmood, Iqbal Hassan}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Sirajganj Sadar Upazila]]
[[Category:University of Dhaka alumni]]
[[Category:Bangladesh Nationalist Party politicians]]
[[Category:Jatiya Party (Ershad) politicians]]
[[Category:3rd Jatiya Sangsad members]]
[[Category:4th Jatiya Sangsad members]]
[[Category:8th Jatiya Sangsad members]]
[[Category:13th Jatiya Sangsad members]]
[[Category:Ministers of power, energy and mineral resources of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:State ministers of power, energy and mineral resources]]
[[Category:State ministers of agriculture of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi industrialists]]
[[Category:20th-century Bangladeshi politicians]]

Iqbal Hassan Mahmood - Revision history

DebraToney89 at 00:55, 27 April 2026