IPDC Ogroj sheds light Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud’s life

Renowned lawyer, politician, former foreign minister, and celebrated barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud shared his life-long political and professional experience during the 18th episode of IPDC Finance's online program 'Ogroj'.

IPDC hosts this series event to shed light on those persons who have tremendously contributed to the nation in the post-liberation war era, reads a media statement.

Renowned banker Anis A Khan highlighted the insights on Anisul's career in this episode of Ogroj. 

Anisul has been one of the leading political figures of Bangladesh for five long decades following the nation's independence. The celebrated lawyer relieved his life through Ogroj baring his memory during the episode.

During the 'Ogroj' episode, they spoke of the grandeur lineage that had enabled him to be the man he is today. Born in an aristocratic family in Chittagong, he was the son of the late Sirajul Islam Mahmud and Sajeda Begum Chowdhurani. His paternal grandfather was Khan Saheb Abdul Halim Chowdhury and Dr Md Sanaullah, Bar-at-Law was his maternal grandfather. He was a member of the Bengal Legislative Assembly from 1942-1947.

Speaking on his academic life on the episode, Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud said he had obtained his BA degree in Economics with honors from Dhaka University in 1969 and MSc from Islamabad Quaid-e-Azam University. He also spoke of the Commonwealth Scholarship he had received to study at the University of Essex in the United Kingdom, earning an MA in Economics in 1972. 

Speaking about his entrance into the legal sector, he mentioned about the bar-at-law degree he pursued from Lincoln's Inn in the United Kingdom (London). Additionally, he relived his memories as the Economics Lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom, Senior Research Associate at the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom, and a Lecturer in the Department of Economics Dhaka University.

During the show, he also spoke of his political life, where he had been the elected Member of Parliament in the Chittagong-5 constituency for the first time in 1979. He was also elected Member of Parliament in the same constituency in 1986, 1988, 2008, 2014, and 2018, getting elected for the role a total of 6 times, making his political career as old as Bangladesh.

He also recalled his memories of serving as a minister in all crucial ministries. As a Member of Parliament for the Ninth Parliament, he served as Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment. He has also served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Irrigation, Water Development and Flood Control, Ministry of Information, and Ministry of Labor and Manpower .He was the President of the Bangladesh Cricket Control Board and Asian Control Board from 1989 to 1990, the President of Bangladesh Flying Club Limited from 1987 to 1990.

Mominul Islam, the managing director and CEO of IPDC Finance, said: "IPDC's 'Ogroj' highlights the subject of nation-builders from fields across educations, arts, business, politics and sports. Teacher, lawyer, businessman, and politician Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud has catered to diversified roles and set iconic precedents to be followed by the younger generation. We take pride in being able to highlight the story of such an individual who directly or indirectly impacted our lives."