KM Obaidur Rahman (5 May 1940 – 21 March 2007) was a Bangladeshi politician. He was a member of the

Jatiya Sangsad The Jatiya Sangsad ( bn, জাতীয় সংসদ, lit=National Parliament, translit=Jatiyô Sôngsôd), often referred to simply as the ''Sangsad'' or JS and also known as the House of the Nation, is the supreme legislative body of B ...

in 1973 representing

Bangladesh Awami League Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million people in an area of . Bangladesh is among the mos ...

and in 1979, 1996 and 2001 representing the

Bangladesh Nationalist Party The Bangladesh Nationalist Party ( bn, বাংলাদেশ জাতীয়তাবাদী দল, Bangladesh Jātīyotābādī Dol; BNP) is a centre-right to right-wing nationalist, political party in Bangladesh and one of the major ...

(BNP).

Early life

Obaidur Rahman was born on 5 May 1940 at Laskardia, Nagarkanda Upazila,

Faridpur District Faridpur District ( bn, ফরিদপুর জেলা) is a district in south-central Bangladesh. It is a part of the Dhaka Division. It is bounded by the Padma River to its northeast. The district was named after Farīd-ud-Dīn Masʿūd, ...

East Bengal ur, , common_name = East Bengal , status = Province of the Dominion of Pakistan , p1 = Bengal Presidency , flag_p1 = Flag of British Bengal.svg , s1 = East ...

British Raj The British Raj (; from Hindi ''rāj'': kingdom, realm, state, or empire) was the rule of the British Crown on the Indian subcontinent; * * it is also called Crown rule in India, * * * * or Direct rule in India, * Quote: "Mill, who was him ...

. He earned his MA degree in 1964 from the

University of Dhaka The University of Dhaka (also known as Dhaka University, or DU) is a public research university located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is the oldest university in Bangladesh. The university opened its doors to students on July 1st 1921. Currently i ...

Career

Obaidur Rahman was elected as general secretary of Dhaka University Central Students Union (DUCSU) during 1962–63. In 1963 he was elected President of East Pakistan Students League. He supported the 1966

Six Point movement The six point movement was a movement in East Pakistan, spearheaded by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, which called for greater autonomy for East Pakistan. The movement's main agenda was to realize the six demands put forward by a coalition of Bengali na ...

of Awami League and participated in the

1969 Mass uprising in East Pakistan The 1969 mass uprising in East Pakistan ( bn, ঊনসত্তরের গণঅভ্যুত্থান, lit=69’s Mass uprising) was a democratic political movement in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The uprising consisted of a series of m ...

. He joined

in 1964 and had served as the social welfare secretary during 1966–1971. In 1970 he was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan. He worked with the

Non-cooperation movement The Non-cooperation movement was a political campaign launched on 4 September 1920, by Mahatma Gandhi to have Indians revoke their cooperation from the British government, with the aim of persuading them to grant self-governance.

and was the convener of the Co-ordination and Resistance Committee in Faridpur District. After the start of Bangladesh Liberation war he moved to India and worked in the Purulia Freedom Fighters Training Camp as the "political motivator". He temporarily administered the Awami League office in Kolkata. In 1973, Obaidur Rahman was elected a member of the first Jatiya Sangsad. He served as the deputy minister in charge of Post and Telegraph from 1973 to 1975. After the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, President of Bangladesh, he joined with Khondokar Moshtaque Ahmed. He was an accused in the 1975 Jail Killing case in which four national leaders of Bangladesh Awami League were killed. Obaidur Rahman joined the

(BNP) in 1978. He was elected to parliament as a candidate of Bangladesh Nationalist Party. He was a member of the cabinet in charge of the Ministry of Fishery and Livestock and later of the Ministry of Aviation and Tourism. From 1986 to 1988 he served as the General Secretary of Bangladesh Nationalist Party. He was elected to parliament in 1996 and in 2001. He was acquitted in the Jail Killing case in 2004. He formed the Janata Party in the 1980s with a ship as its symbol.

Personal life

Obaidur Rahman was married to Professor Shaheda Obaid, who had a daughter named, Shama Obaid. Obaidur Rahman became her adopted father. On 18 March 2008 Shahida Obaid was sued by

Bangladesh Anti Corruption Commission The Anti Corruption Commission ( bn, দুর্নীতি দমন কমিশন) ''often abbreviated:'' ACC ( bn, দুদক) is the principal government agency against corruption in Bangladesh. History The Anti Corruption Commissio ...

on graft allegation relating to her chairmanship of

Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Dhaka The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Dhaka, is an autonomous organization and responsible for holding public examinations ( JSC, SSC and HSC). The board office is located at Bakshibazar, Dhaka. History Board of Intermediate and S ...

. Shama Obaid contested the

Faridpur-2 Faridpur-2 is a constituency represented in the Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament) of Bangladesh . Boundaries The constituency encompasses Nagarkanda Upazila, Nagarkanda and Saltha Upazila, Saltha upazilas, and one union parishad of Sadarpur ...

parliamentary election in 2008 as a Bangladesh Nationalist Party candidate. Shama is the Organizing Secretary of Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

Death and legacy

Obaidur Rahman died on 21 March 2007 in Apollo Hospital, Dhaka,

Bangladesh Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million people in an area of . Bangladesh is among the mos ...

. He was buried in Laskardia, Nagarkanda Upazila, Faridpur District. Obaidur Rahman Smriti Sangsad and KM Obaidur Rahman Foundation are two organisations dedicated to his memory.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Obaidur Rahman, KM 1940 births 2007 deaths People from Faridpur District University of Dhaka alumni Awami League politicians Bangladesh Nationalist Party politicians General Secretaries of Bangladesh Nationalist Party 8th Jatiya Sangsad members Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology ministers Fisheries and Livestock ministers of Bangladesh Civil Aviation and Tourism ministers of Bangladesh Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League central committee members