Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan

Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan
Born	(1943-01-03)3 January 1943 Narsingdi, Bangladesh
Died	Dhaka, Bangladesh
Residence	Dhaka, Bangladesh
Nationality	Bangladeshi
Occupation	Politician
Spouse(s)	Mariam Begum (ex-principal Dhaka College, Dhaka, Bangladesh)
Children	Two Sons ( Rajon & Swajan)

Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan ( ahb-DOOL mah-NAHN BWEE-yah; 3 January 1943, Shibpur, Narsingdi – 28 July 2010) was a Bangladeshi politician who was part of the cabinet of political party Bangladesh Nationalist Party during 1991–1996 and again in 2001–2006.

Early life

Mannan Bhuiyan was born on January 3, 1943, at his maternal grandfather's house at Asad Nagar village under Mashimpur union of Shibpur Upazila in Narsingdi District.

His elementary education commenced at a village primary school. He passed Matriculation from Shibpur High School and the Higher Secondary Certificate examination from Narsingdi College. His graduation and post-graduation degrees came in History from Dhaka University. He also obtained an LLB degree.

Political career

After he had finished study, Bhuiyan was briefly involved in teaching. Bhuiyan started his political life as an activist of Chhatra Union (Students' Union). Due to his involvement in left-oriented student politics he was imprisoned before his degree examination. He was elected social welfare secretary of Narsingdi College Student Union in 1960. He played the role of a pioneer in the anti-Ayub movement in 1962 as one of the organisers of the then East Pakistan Chhatra Union. He was elected organising secretary of East Pakistan Chhatra Union in 1964 and held the post of its general secretary for the next two years.

Bhuiyan was elected executive member of Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) in 1964-65. After completion of his student life he joined the National Awami Party (NAP) led by Maulana Bhashani. He played a significant role in the mass upsurge in 1969. During the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971, Bhuiyan put up resistance against the Pakistani occupation forces by organising thousands of local freedom fighters. He announced a vast area including Shibpur of Narsingdi free and operated from there as a commander. He was general secretary of Krishak Samity for a long time under the leadership of Maulana Bhashani. The movement for improving the condition of deprived farmers commenced under Bhuiyan's leadership.

He left NAP and became general secretary of United People's Party (UPP) in 1978. Later on request of the then president Ziaur Rahman he joined Bangladesh Nationalist Party in 1980. Zia nominated Bhuiyan as the convener of Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal. He also became the agriculture secretary of BNP central committee. Mannan Bhuiyan was also an organiser of the movement against autocratic Ershad. He acted as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party joint secretary for eight and a half years since 1988.

Bhuiyan was appointed as state minister for Labour and Manpower in 1991 and then as a cabinet minister given the charge of food and agriculture.

On June 26, 1996, Khaleda Zia nominated him as the secretary general of the party. His foremost task was to reorganise the party, which he successfully carried out. Bhuiyan was the longest serving secretary general of Bangladesh Nationalist Party for 11 years.

He faced the toughest time during his secretary general tenure in Bangladesh Nationalist Party as the hardliners and anti-liberation elements within and outside the party strongly opposed a communist leader's becoming Bangladesh Nationalist Party's second man. He was Member of parliament for 15 years and served as Bangladesh Nationalist Party's longest serving secretary general. He was secretary general for 11 years before expelled by Khaleda Zia in September, 2007. He served as Labor and Manpower minister (1991–2005) and the LGRD and Cooperatives minister (2001–2006) of the BNP-led government. He was a member of the Jatiya Sangshad at seat number 199, and local government of Narsingdi (3). He was elected Member of Parliament four times back to back since the 5th Jatiya Sangsad in 1991.

Expelled from secretary role

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia had expelled Secretary Mannan Bhuiyan and Joint General Secretary Ashraf Hossain from their respective posts in September, 2007. Khandaker Delwar Hossain replaced Mannan Bhuiyan.

Personal life

Mannan Bhuiyan was married with two sons. His elder son Bhuiyan Anindya Mohaimen Rajon works for a multinational company in Australia while his younger son Bhuiyan Nandito Nahiyan Swajon for Citi Bank NA. Bhuiyan's wife Prof Mariam Begum retired as the principal of Dhaka College.

Death

Mannan Bhuiyam died at 12:01am on 28 July 2010 square hospital.

References

• Member of Parliament: Profile (Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan)