Iqbal Hassan Mahmood | |
|---|---|
ইকবাল হাসান মাহমুদ | |
_(cropped).jpg) Mahmood in 2025 | |
| Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources | |
| Assumed office 17 February 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan (as Adviser) |
| Member of Parliament | |
| Assumed office 17 February 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Jannat Ara Henry |
| Constituency | Sirajganj-2 |
| Member of Parliament | |
| In office 28 October 2001 – 27 October 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Mohammed Nasim |
| Succeeded by | Rumana Mahmood |
| Constituency | Sirajganj-2 |
| Member of Parliament | |
| In office 10 July 1986 – 6 December 1990 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency created |
| Succeeded by | Mirza Muraduzzaman |
| Constituency | Sirajganj-2 |
| State Minister of Power | |
| In office 10 October 2001 – 20 May 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Rafiqul Islam |
| Succeeded by | Anwarul Kabir Talukdar |
| State Minister of Agriculture | |
| In office 21 May 2006 – 29 October 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 May 1950 Koyelgati, Sirajganj, East Bengal, Dominion of Pakistan |
| Political party | Bangladesh Nationalist Party (1990–present) |
| Spouse(s) | Rumana Mahmood |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent(s) | Abdullah al Mahmood (father) |
| Relatives | M. A. Matin (brother-in-law) M. A. Muhit (nephew) |
| Alma mater | University of Dhaka |
| Occupation |
|
Iqbal Hassan Mahmood (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.; born 10 May 1950), also known as Tuku, is a Bangladeshi politician and industrialist. A member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) National Standing Committee, he has been elected to the Jatiya Sangsad from Sirajganj-2 on four occasions and has served as the minister of power, energy and mineral resources since February 2026.[1][2] He previously served as state minister of power from 2001 to 2006 and as state minister of agriculture in 2006.[3]
Early life and education[edit | edit source]
Mahmood was born on 10 May 1950 into a Bengali Muslim family of Taluqdars in the village of Koyelgati in Sheyalkol Union, Sirajganj, the son of Abdullah al Mahmood and Abeda Khatun.[4][5] His father was a politician who served as the minister of industries and natural resources of Pakistan.[5]
Mahmood completed his early education in Sirajganj before studying at the University of Dhaka, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology with honours and later completed a master’s degree in 1975 with honours.[6]
Business career[edit | edit source]
Mahmood built his business career through the Apex Group, where he was a founding director and held senior executive roles in several of its export-oriented companies.[4] He was among the early Bangladeshi industrialists involved in exporting garment products to Europe, and was associated with the group’s expansion into textiles, leather and footwear, frozen foods, and home textiles. Within the group, he served as managing director of Apex Weaving & Finishing Mills Limited and held senior positions at Apex Tannery Limited, Apex Foods Limited, and Apex Spinning & Knitting Mills Limited.[7]
Outside the private sector, Mahmood served as a director of Bangladesh Shilpa Rin Sangstha, the state industrial financing institution, and was president of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry.[8]
Political career[edit | edit source]
Student politics and Liberation War[edit | edit source]
As a student, Mahmood was active in the East Pakistan Students' Union and took part in the 11-point movement of 1969 against the government of Ayub Khan. He later fought in the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.[4]
Parliament and cabinet[edit | edit source]
Mahmood was first elected to parliament from Sirajganj-2 as a Jatiya Party candidate in 1986 and was re-elected in 1988.[3] After the fall of Hussain Muhammad Ershad in 1990, he joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.[5]
He returned to parliament from Sirajganj-2 in the 2001 general election. In the cabinet of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, he served as state minister of power from October 2001 to May 2006 and as state minister of agriculture from May to October 2006.[3]
On 19 June 2019, Mahmood was made a member of the BNP National Standing Committee.[9]
In the 2026 general election, Mahmood was again elected from Sirajganj-2.[10] On 17 February 2026, he was sworn in as minister of power, energy and mineral resources in the cabinet of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.[2]
Legal proceedings and exile[edit | edit source]
In March 2007, after a military coup and amid the 2006-2008 political crisis, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case against Mahmood, alleging that he had amassed Template:BDT2.57 crore through illegal means and concealed information in his wealth statement. On 15 November 2007, a special court convicted him and sentenced him to nine years' imprisonment and a fine of Template:BDT50 lakh.[11]
Mahmood appealed the verdict. In June 2011, the High Court Division acquitted him of the charges, but in January 2014, during the Sheikh Hasina government, the ACC appealed and the Appellate Division set aside the acquittal and ordered a fresh hearing.[12]
In May 2023, the High Court again upheld the conviction and original sentence.[11] BNP leaders claim this was a politically motivated false conviction.[13] After the judgment was released, Mahmood went into exile.[12] After the July Uprising, in October 2024, he returned to Bangladesh.[14]
In September 2025, the Appellate Division acquitted Mahmood of all charges, overturning the conviction.[15]
Personal life[edit | edit source]
Mahmood is married to Rumana Mahmood, a former member of parliament.[4][16] They have a son and a daughter.[4][11] His brother-in-law was former deputy prime minister M. A. Matin, and Matin's son M. A. Muhit is Mahmood's nephew.[17] In 2026, Mahmood and Muhit joined the cabinet of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.[18] Mahmood's daughter is married to the son of Sheikh Selim.[19]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "Iqbal Hasan Mahmud: BNP stands by parliamentary democracy". Dhaka Tribune. 29 August 2025. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Gazette reveals what Tarique's cabinet looks like". The Business Standard. 18 February 2026. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Power Minister Iqbal orders seamless electricity during Ramadan". bdnews24.com. 18 February 2026. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Biography of Power, Energy & Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood". Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha. 1 April 2026. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "সিরাজগঞ্জের সিংহপুরুষ বিদ্যুৎমন্ত্রী টুকুর বর্ণাঢ্য জীবন" [The colourful life of Sirajganj's lion, power minister Tuku]. Daily Jugantor (in Bengali). 19 February 2026. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
- ↑ "পাকিস্তানের মন্ত্রী ছিলেন বাবা, ছেলে বাংলাদেশের". Jugantor (in Bengali). Retrieved 11 April 2026.
- ↑ "Sonali Bank auctions Apex Weaving's assets to recover Tk390cr loan". The Business Standard. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
- ↑ "Previous Board of Directors". Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
- ↑ "Selima, Tuku made BNP standing committee members". New Age. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
- ↑ "Current Parliament Members". Bangladesh Parliament. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "HC upholds jail of Tuku, Aman in 2007-08 cases". New Age. 30 May 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Arrest warrant issued against BNP leader Tuku in graft case". The Business Standard. 11 September 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
- ↑ "BNP criticizes remand of Chand, jailing of Aman, Tuku". Dhaka Tribune. 30 May 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
- ↑ "Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku returns home after long exile". Dhaka Tribune. 6 October 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
- ↑ "Tuku acquitted of 9-year prison sentence in ACC case". Dhaka Tribune. 4 September 2025. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
- ↑ "Ex-Sirajganj MP Abdul Mannan dies". New Age. 19 July 2025. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
- ↑ "Fight between in-laws puts relatives in dilemma". The Daily Star. 17 December 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
- ↑ "Sirajganj uncle–nephew duo get cabinet call". bdnews24.com. 17 February 2026. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
- ↑ Pratidin, Bangladesh. "আত্মীয়তার যত বন্ধনে বিএনপি আওয়ামী লীগ | বাংলাদেশ প্রতিদিন". Bangladesh Pratidin. Archived from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2026.