Biography of President Mohammed Shahabuddin

Mohammed Shahabuddin took the oath of office as the 22nd President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh on April 24, 2023. According to constitutional regulations, his term is scheduled to end on April 23, 2028.

Mohammed Shahabuddin was born on December 10, 1949, at Jubilee Tank Para in Shivrampur under Pabna Town. His father was Sharfuddin Ansari and his mother was Khairunnesa. His father was the owner of a leading soap factory in Pabna town.

He demonstrated consistent academic excellence throughout his educational career. He passed his SSC from Radhanagar Mazumder Academy in 1966, HSC from Pabna Edward College in 1968, and obtained his B.Sc. degree in 1971 (with examinations held in 1972).

Later, he earned his Master's degree in Psychology from Rajshahi University in 1974 and his LL.B. degree from Pabna Shahid Aminuddin Law College in 1975. He demonstrated exceptional talent by being the sole successful candidate among 103 examinees in that law examination.

During the Pakistan regime in 1967, an armed uprising took place in Pabna following deaths caused by poisoning from rationed corn. He actively participated in this rebellion. As an arrest warrant was issued against him, he had to go into hiding for some time.

He played an active role as a organizer of the Liberation War over an extended period. On March 23, 1971, he was among the first individuals to hoist the flag of Bangladesh at the Pabna Town Hall premises. During the glorious Liberation War, he served as the Convener of the Pabna District Swadhin Bangla Chhatra Sangram Parishad and actively took part in direct armed combat following his training.

In his professional life, Mohammed Shahabuddin is well known as a jurist, administrator, and anti-corruption campaigner. Upon completing his studies, he served as a lecturer at a private college while simultaneously pursuing journalism.

Mohammed Shahabuddin became a member of the Pabna District Bar Association in 1979 and entered the legal profession. In 1982, he joined the Bangladesh Civil Service (Judicial) cadre. He was elected as the central Secretary General of the Bangladesh Judicial Service Association in 1995–96. During his judicial service, he secured the first position in both the training programs for Additional District & Sessions Judges and District Judges.

From 1998 to 2000, he served as a Director at the Prime Minister's Office. Subsequently, after serving as a District Judge in various districts, he also served as the Chairman of the Labour Court.

Following his retirement from the post of District & Sessions Judge in 2006, he returned to the legal profession in the High Court Division of the Supreme Court. Later, from 2011 to 2016, he served as a Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Under his and the Commission's efficient and impartial leadership, an inquiry report into the Padma Bridge project corruption allegations identified the World Bank's claims as baseless, an assessment that was later fully endorsed by the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto, Canada.

He is the founder President of the Pabna Development Foundation. In the post-independence period, he served as the Secretary General of the Pabna District Red Crescent Society from 1972 to 1974 and as the Treasurer of the District Family Planning Association in 1973–74. He is a life member of the Pabna Press Club, Annada Gobinda Public Library, Banamali Shilpa Charcha Kendra, and the Pabna Diabetic Association.

In his personal life, Mohammed Shahabuddin is a person of strong family and cultural values. His wife, Dr. Rebecca Sultana, won a decisive victory for the post of Female Affairs Secretary during her student life in the 1973 Rajshahi University Central Students' Union (RUCSU) elections. She earned her Master's degree from Rajshahi University and later completed her Ph.D. during her service career. She passed the administration cadre exam in the 1982 BCS (Special) examination.

It is worth noting that she was the only woman from the northern region of the Rajshahi Division to clear the administration cadre at that time. During her career, Dr. Rebecca Sultana served as Deputy Magistrate and Collector, Senior Assistant Secretary, Revenue Deputy Collector, General Certificate Officer, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Deputy Secretary, and Joint Secretary before retiring from service in 2009. Afterward, she taught at a private university and later served as its Chief Advisor.

The couple's only son, Mohammad Arshad Adnan (Rony), completed his studies abroad and served as a Branch Manager at a domestic bank before establishing a media house named "Versatile Media" to pursue drama and film production professionally. Among the several dramas and movies produced by this media house, the 2023 films "Priyotoma" and "Rajkumar" became widely recognized as the most popular and commercially successful films in recent times after a long period, drawing audiences back to movie theaters. Mohammed Shahabuddin and Dr. Rebecca Sultana's twin grandsons, Tahmid Mohammad Adnan and Tahsin Mohammad Adnan, are currently pursuing their education in London.

Traveling, reading books, and listening to music are President Mohammed Shahabuddin's favorite hobbies.
Source: Website of the President's Office.