Murad Hasan (born 10 October 1974)[2] is a Bangladesh Awami League politician and former Jatiya Sangsad member from Jamalpur-4 constituency and a former State Minister of Information served during 2019–2021.[2]

Murad Hasan
মুরাদ হাসান
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting
In office
19 May 2019 – 7 December 2021
Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina
Preceded byZunaid Ahmed Palak[1]
Succeeded byMohammad A. Arafat
Member of Parliament
for Jamalpur-4
In office
30 January 2019 – 29 January 2024
Preceded byMd. Mamunoor Rashid
Succeeded byAbdur Rashid
In office
25 January 2009 – 24 January 2014
Preceded byAnwarul Kabir Talukdar
Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare
In office
7 January 2019 – 19 May 2019
Preceded byZahid Maleque
Succeeded byZahid Maleque
Personal details
Born (1974-10-10) 10 October 1974 (age 49)
Sarishabari, Jamalpur District, Bangladesh
Political partyAwami League
Alma mater

Background and education edit

Hasan is a son of Motiyar Rahman Talukdar who was one of the organizers of 1971 Liberation War, the temporary justice of Mujibnagar government and the president of Jamalpur District Awami League and District Lawyers Association.

Hasan passed SSC from Jamalpur Zila School in 1990, HSC from Notre Dame College in 1992 and MBBS from Mymensingh Medical College in 2001.[2]

Career edit

Hasan was elected to parliament in 2008 from Jamalpur-4 as a Bangladesh Awami League candidate. He took the office of state minister of information on 20 May 2019. He has been the State Minister of Health and Family Welfare Ministry in the 2018 cabinet and is currently serving as the State Minister of Information Ministry of the Bangladesh Government. He also performs as a consultant in the Department of Oncology at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.[3] He is also one of the core members of Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad.[4]

Controversies and fallout edit

On 13 October 2021, at a press conference Hasan said - "Islam is not the state religion, I do believe it. We will soon take measures to remove Islam as a state religion from the constitution of Bangladesh."[5] Over the remark other political parties and religious groups of Bangladesh got outraged and demanded his termination.[6]

On 2 December 2021, at an online talk-show, Hasan made vulgar, sexual and racist remarks about Tarique Rahman and his daughter Zaima Rahman, on the issue of taking the lead of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).[7][8] For the indecent remarks, BNP leaders demanded for Hasan's resignation to the government of Bangladesh.[9][10]

On 5 December 2021, an audio call record, of Hasan with Bangladeshi actress Mahiya Mahi went viral on social-media, where Hasan was heard making sexual remarks on Mahi's body, asking her to come over to his place and threatening to rape her.[11][12] For the audio call record netizens started to call him as Murad Takla (lit. A bald person named Murad).[13] Over the call-record scandal and the remarks about Tarique Rahman and his daughter, on 6 December, PM Sheikh Hasina ordered Hasan to resign from his position of State Minister of Information.[14][15] The next day, on 7 December, he resigned from his position citing personal reasons in the resignation letter submitted to the Prime Minister's office.[16] He left for Canada on early 10 December but he was denied entry by the Canada Border Services Agency. After also getting denied entry to the United Arab Emirates, he returned to Dhaka on 12 December.[17] After the event, Hero Alom published several parody songs about Hasan.[18]

On 26 November 2023, Awami League announced the final list of its 298 candidates to contest the 2024 national election which did not include Hasan.[19]

Personal life edit

Hasan is married to Jahanara Ehsan and together they have two children.[17] In January 2022, Jahanara filed a general diary (GD) against him, alleging torture and abuse.[17]

References edit

  1. ^ "Those who are new state ministers". The Daily Star. 2019-01-06. Retrieved 2020-03-28.
  2. ^ a b c "Profile of the State Minister". Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
  3. ^ "State minister Murad joins new office". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  4. ^ বিতর্কের পর মন্ত্রিত্ব যাচ্ছে মুরাদের. Bangladesh Pratidin (in Bengali). 2021-12-07. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
  5. ^ "Will revert to 1972 constitution; bill to be placed soon: Murad". The Business Standard. 15 October 2021.
  6. ^ তথ্য প্রতিমন্ত্রীর ইসলাম বিদ্বেষী বক্তব্য সরকারের অর্জনগুলোকে ম্লান করে দিচ্ছে. Daily Inqilab (in Bengali). 17 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Outrage over comments by State Minister Murad on Khaleda, her grandchild". Dhaka Tribune. 6 December 2021.
  8. ^ মুরাদ হাসান: তারেক রহমানের কন্যা জাইমাকে নিয়ে অশালীন মন্তব্য, তথ্য প্রতিমন্ত্রীর পদত্যাগ চায় বিএনপি. BBC Bangla (in Bengali). 6 December 2021.
  9. ^ "BNP demands State Minister Murad's resignation, his apology". Dhaka Tribune. 6 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Murad's remarks: BNP seeks govt explanation". The Daily Star. 6 December 2021.
  11. ^ প্রতিমন্ত্রী মুরাদের ফোনালাপ সত্য বললেন নায়ক ইমন. The Daily Star (in Bengali).
  12. ^ "Audio scandal: Murad Hassan resigns from cabinet on prime minister's order". Dhaka Tribune. 7 December 2021.
  13. ^ Khan Alamin (9 December 2021). মুরাদ টাকলা শুধুমাত্র ভাষা বিকৃতির ফল! [Murad Takla is only the result of language distortion!] (News report) (in Bengali). Bangladesh: RTV (Bangladeshi TV channel). বর্তমানে বাংলাদেশে আলোচিত নাম সাবেক তথ্য প্রতিমন্ত্রী ডা. মুরাদ হাসান। তার বি'তর্কি'ত মন্তব্যের প্রতিক্রিয়ায় নেটিজেনরা অনেকেই তাকে মুরাদ টাকলা অভিধায় ভূষিত করেছেন...
  14. ^ "Indecent comments on women: PM asks Murad to quit by tomorrow". The Daily Star.
  15. ^ "Objectionable remarks: PM Hasina orders State Minister Murad to resign". Dhaka Tribune. 6 December 2021.
  16. ^ "Dr Murad Hasan submits resignation after PM's order". Daily Sun. 7 December 2021.
  17. ^ a b c "Murad's wife files GD against him alleging torture". The Daily Star. 2022-01-06. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  18. ^ 'মুরাদ হাসান টেনশনে' গান নিয়ে হাজির হিরো আলম (ভিডিও). RTV (in Bengali). 13 December 2021.
  19. ^ Hasan, Rashidul (2023-11-26). "AL nomination: Many controversial lawmakers left out". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2023-11-28.