M. A. Aziz (born 30 September 1939)[1] is a former judge of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and former Chief Election Commissioner of Bangladesh.[2][3][4]
M. A. Aziz | |
|---|---|
এম. এ. আজিজ | |
| 9th Chief Election Commissioner of Bangladesh | |
| In office 23 May 2005 – 21 January 2007 | |
| President | Iajuddin Ahmed |
| Prime Minister |
|
| Preceded by | MA Syed |
| Succeeded by | A. T. M. Shamsul Huda |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 September 1939 Agailjhara, Barisal, Bengal Province, British India |
| Alma mater | University of Dhaka |
Early life edit
Aziz was born on 30 September 1939 in Amboula, Agailjhara Upazila, Barisal District, East Bengal, British India. He completed Matriculation in 1956, and in 1958 completed his Higher Secondary Certificate. He finished his bachelor's degree in history at the University of Dhaka in 1961 and Masters in 1962. In 1969, he was called to bar at law at the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple in London, United Kingdom. He started his practice at the High Court.[5][6]
Career edit
In 1986, Aziz became a judge at the Bangladesh High Court in June 1996.[5]
In January 2003, Aziz and justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury declared the detention of Tofail Ahmed, a politician of the Awami League, who was arrested in December 2002.[7]
On 7 January 2004, Aziz was promoted to the Appellate Division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court. This was controversial as his promotion superseded Judge Syed Amirul Islam.[8]
On 22 May 2005, Aziz was appointed Chief Election Commissioner of Bangladesh overseeing the Bangladesh Election Commission.[5] There were street protests demanding his resignation as opposition parties did not believe he would be neutral during the election.[9][10][11]
Aziz resigned from the post of Chief Election Commissioner following political unrest in Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Awami League not accepting his position.[12][1][13][14] The creation of the voter list during his term was marred in controversy as it faced accusation of being partisan and corruption. He meet chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Khaleda Zia, in 2008 which the media speculated was for seeking a nomination from the party.[15] ATM Shamsul Huda replaced him as the next chief election commissioner.[16]
References edit
- ^ a b "Justice Aziz becomes CEC". The Daily Star. 2005-05-24. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
- ^ Ehteshamul Bari, M. (2017). States of Emergency and the Law: The Experience of Bangladesh. Taylor & Francis. pp. 202–. ISBN 978-1-351-68591-7.
- ^ Khan, Sonia Zaman (2017). The Politics and Law of Democratic Transition: Caretaker Government in Bangladesh. Taylor & Francis. p. 142. ISBN 978-1-351-86024-6.
- ^ "Protesters blockade Bangladeshi capital". International Herald Tribune. 12 October 2006. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ^ a b c "Justice MA Aziz new CEC, 1st Ld". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ^ "Bangladesh poll chief to stay on". BBC News. 6 November 2006. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ^ "Detention of Tofail, Saleem Illegal: HC". The Daily Star. 2003-01-15. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
- ^ "Justice Aziz elevated to Appellate Division". The Daily Star. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ^ "Thousands of Marchers Demand Bangladesh Election Reform". Voice of America. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ^ "BD opposition resents CEC appointment". Dawn. 26 May 2005. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ^ "Man killed in Bangladesh riots". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ^ "Justice MA Aziz Resigns As Chief Election Commissioner". Voice of America (in Bengali). Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ^ "CEC MA Aziz resigns, finally". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ^ "Bangladesh's election panel chief resigns". Reuters. 21 January 2007. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ^ "Ex-CEC MA Aziz out to get BNP nomination?". The Daily Star. 30 October 2008. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ^ "Bangladesh's CEC takes oath with two tasks on agenda". People's Daily. Retrieved 10 August 2019.