BANGLADESH

A glance into Muhith’s life and works

Former finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith has passed away. He was 88. He breathed his last at 12:56am on Saturday at United Hospital in the capital.

Abul Maal A Muhith was  a renowned economist, diplomat, freedom fighter and language veteran, was born in a respected Muslim family of Sylhet in 1934.

Mr. Muhith was the third child of Advocate Abu Ahmad Abdul Hafiz who was a great leader of Pakistan movement and the founder of the then Sylhet District Muslim League. His mother Syed Shahar Banu Chowdhury was also active in politics and social work. Mr. Muhith has earned outstanding reputation in economic diplomacy. He has been a recognized figure in World Bank, IMF, IDB, ADB and in different organizations of the United Nations for quite a long period.

Early Career:

Mr. Muhith was very brilliant throughout his student life. He secured first place in Intermediate examination in the province in 1951 from Sylhet MC College. He stood first class first in B.A. (Hons.) in English Literature in 1954 from Dhaka University and passed his M.A. with credit from the same university in 1955. During his service period, he studied in Oxford University in 1957-58 and received MPA degree from Harvard University in 1964.

After joining Pakistan Civil Service (CSP) in 1956, he served in different capacities in the government of East Pakistan, Central government of Pakistan, and then Bangladesh. During his service as the Chief and Deputy Secretary of Pakistan Planning Commission, he made a report on the disparity between East and West Pakistan in 1966 and that was the first report submitted on that issue in Pakistan National Assembly in fulfillment of constitutional obligation.

He was the first diplomat of Washington Embassy of Pakistan who transferred his allegiance to Bangladesh in June during the Independence War of 1971. He was appointed as the Secretary of Planning in January, 1972 and Secretary of the External Resources Division of Finance and Planning Ministry in May, 1977.

2nd innings:

He went for early retirement in 1981 from his service and started his second innings of glorious career as a consultant on economic and development matters in Ford Foundation, IFAD, UN, UNDP, ADB & World Bank. He was Finance and Planning Minister from March 1982 to December 1983.

He is a pioneer of Bangladesh Environment Movement and was also the founder President of BAPA established in 2000. Earlier he was the founder President of an environmental group called ‘Porosh’.

He joined Awami League in 2001 and was appointed member of its Advisory Board in 2002, which position he still holds in the party. He was elected a Member of Parliament in 2009 from his home constituency in Sylhet.

He took oath as Finance Minister on 6 January 2009 and has been continuing in the same position after reelection as an uncontested MP in 2014 again.

Muhith retired from Government and from his role as Member of Parliament for Sylhet-1 constituency at the Elections of December 2018.

He was a Visiting Fellow of W. Wilson School at Princeton University in 1984 and 1985. He was awarded the highest civil Award “Swadhinata Padak” (Independence Award) in 2016 for his contribution to the liberation war and devoted record of public service.

Mr. Muhith is equally gifted as a writer. He published 35 books on different subjects including liberation war, economic development, history, public administration and political problems. In 2016 an anthology of his books has been published in lot volumes.

Personal life 

Muhith was the husband of designer Syeda Sabia, and the father of two sons and a daughter. 

Their daughter, Samina Muhith, is a banker and an expert in the field of monetary policy. Their elder son, Shahed Muhith, is an architect, and younger son, Samir Muhith, is a teacher.

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