Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has chosen an experienced politician - Mohammed Hasan Mahmud - to oversee her government's foreign policy- friendship to all, malice towards none - in a changed scenario globally amid intensified geopolitics and big powers rivalry.
Hasan Mahmud, who served as Information and Broadcasting Minister in the last tenure, has been appointed as next foreign minister.
The portfolio was distributed after the oath-taking ceremony at Bangabhaban on Thursday evening.
Hasan Mahmud replaced AK Abdul Momen.
He was elected from Chattogram-7 this time though he was elected the Jatiya Sangsad member from Chittagong-6 constituency during 2008–2018.
He was appointed as the state minister for foreign affairs in January 2009 in Sheikh Hasina's cabinet but 6 months later he was moved to the position of state minister for environment and forests.
In November 2011, he was promoted to the full minister of environment and forest. Dr Hasan, who ran in the general elections from Chittagong-6 constituency, pledged to take initiative to rebuild Mariamnagar embankment to save all the unions from the Karnaphuli erosion. He also said that he would try to make Rangunia free of terrorists and would build road and other infrastructures.
Dr. Hasan was elected from Chittagong-7 constituency in the 10th parliamentary elections in 2014 and in the 11th parliamentary elections in 2018. He became the Information Minister in the fourth cabinet of Sheikh Hasina in the Eleventh Parliament.
Hasan Mahmud completed his BSc Honours and Masters in Chemistry from Chittagong University (CU) in 1987 and 1989 respectively.
The minister obtained his higher degree on international politics from Geneva in 1996. He did another post-graduation in Environmental Science from Breeze University of Brussels in Belgium in the same year.
He obtained his PhD degree in Environmental Chemistry from Limburg University in the years of 2000-2001. He has been involved with politics since his student life. He was the senior vice-president of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) unit at CU in 1986 and president in 1989-90.
Hasan performed as the general secretary of Belgium chapter of Awami League (AL) since 1995 until he returned home in 2001.
He had been the assistant personal secretary (APS) to AL Chief Sheikh Hasina since November 2001.
At the same time, he was also the central secretary for forest and environment affairs of the party.
During 1996–2001, Mahmud served as the political and parliamentary affairs adviser to then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
