Mahmudur Rahman

Mahmudur Rahman
মাহমুদুর রহমান
Rahman in 2024
Born (1953-07-06) 6 July 1953 (age 71)
Comilla, Tippera District, East Bengal, Pakistan
NationalityBangladeshi
Alma materBangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
Occupation(s)Owner and editor of the daily Amar Desh
Years activeEditor since 2008
Known forEditor of renowned daily newspaper Amar Desh[1]
Political partyBangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)[2]
SpouseFiroza Khan
ParentMahmuda Begum (mother)[3]

Mahmudur Rahman (Bengali: মাহমুদুর রহমান; born 6 July 1953) is one of the owners and editor of one of Bangladesh's Bengali daily newspapers, Amar Desh. He is also an author, engineer and businessman.

Established in business, Mahmudur Rahman was appointed the executive chairman of the National Investment Board in 2002, and then elevated to national energy adviser in 2005. In both positions, Mahmudur Rahman set high goals for attracting foreign investments and increasing energy capacity in Bangladesh. While he had success in attracting foreign investors, he also took controversial steps such as increasing petrol prices or developing open-pit mines that set off protests across the country.

Since the restoration of civilian government and the Awami League victory in 2008, Mahmudur Rahman has been a strong critic of the government through his newspaper. Party and government officials have reacted by charging him with defamation and sedition cases more than 50 times since 2009 to 2013.[4][5][6] He is the only person to be sentenced for contempt by the Bangladesh Supreme Court.[2][7][8][9] International human rights groups and press organisations have characterised the government's actions against him as judicial harassment.[10][11] Critics have said he has misrepresented bloggers and activists associated with the 2013 Shahbag protests and contributed to widespread religious tensions and civil unrest.[12]

  1. ^ "Mahmudur Rahman appointed as publisher, editor of Amar Desh -". The Daily Observer. 9 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Bangladeshi editor sentenced for contempt". New Statesman. 20 August 2010. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference mom-1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference BBC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference AJZ was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference ABC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "Mahmudur jailed for contempt of court". bdnews24.com. 19 August 2010. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  8. ^ "Mahmudur Rahman freed". Banglanews24.com. 17 March 2011. Archived from the original on 16 March 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  9. ^ "Editor, journalist jailed for contempt in Bangladesh". Committee to Protect Journalists. 20 August 2010. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  10. ^ Yuan, Elizabeth; Ahmed, Farid (1 March 2013). "Seeking war crimes justice, Bangladesh protesters fight 'anti-Islam' label". CNN. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  11. ^ "Ongoing judicial harassment against Mr. Mahmudur Rahman – BGD 001 / 0610 / OBS 075.3". International Federation for Human Rights. 8 April 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  12. ^ "Protesters vow to resist anti-lib forces". The New Nation. 24 February 2013. Archived from the original on 21 September 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2013.