Bir Protik Akbar Hossain (18 January 1941 – 25 June 2006)^[1] was a Bangladeshi politician of Bangladesh National Party. He served as the minister of Minister for Shipping, Minister for the Environment and Forests and Minister for Petroleum and Mineral Resources.^[2]

Quick Facts Minister for Shipping, Preceded by ...

Akbar Hossain
আকবর হোসেন
Minister for Shipping
In office 10 October 2001 – 25 June 2006
Preceded by	A. S. M. Abdur Rab
Succeeded by	Shajahan Khan
Minister for the Environment and Forests
In office October 1993 – January 1996
Succeeded by	Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury
Minister for Petroleum and Mineral Resources
In office 1978–1981
Member of Parliament for Comilla-8
In office 5 March 1991 – 27 October 2006
Preceded by	Ansar Ahmed
Succeeded by	Nasimul Alam Chowdhury
Personal details
Born	(1941-11-02)2 November 1941 Comilla, Bengal Presidency, British India (Now, Chittagong, Bangladesh)
Died	25 June 2006(2006-06-25) (aged 64) Dhaka, Bangladesh
Political party	Bangladesh Nationalist Party
Spouse	Sultana Akbar
Alma mater	University of Dhaka
Awards	Bir Protik
Military service
Allegiance	Pakistan (Before 1971)  Bangladesh
Branch/service	Pakistan Army  Bangladesh Army
Years of service	1966–1973
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Unit	Baloch Regiment (Before 1971) East Bengal Regiment
Commands	Deputy Commander of K Force Deputy Commander of Z Force CO of 14th East Bengal Regiment
Battles/wars	Bangladesh Liberation War

Close

Hossain was born in Kashari Patty on 18 January 1941, in Comilla District.^[1]

Hossain joined the army at Kakul Military Academy in Pakistan in May 1966, after his commission, he was posted to the 31 Baluch Regiment. While serving, he studied for his bachelor's at the University of Dhaka, receiving the degree in 1969.

Hossain joined the War of Independence in 1971 first under Khaled Musharraf and then with the Z force headed by Ziaur Rahman. He was decorated for gallantry, receiving the 'Bir Protik' for his role in the War.^[3] After independence was won, he took voluntary retirement from the Bangladesh Army at the end of December 1973, after attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Hossain then became actively involved in politics and helped form the United People's Party (UPP) in January 1974. He went on to become the Vice-President of the UPP. In 1977, the UPP merged with the Jatiyatabadi Front, Hossain left and joined Bangladesh National Party (BNP) and played a crucial role in its founding.^[3] He was first made Special Secretary and then held the position of Joint Secretary General and was one of the Vice-Presidents of the BNP up until his death.

In 1978, Hossain was appointed as the minister for Petroleum and Mineral Resources under the government of President Ziaur Rahman.^[4] Hossain was first elected a Member of the Bangladesh Parliament in 1979, he represented the Comilla 8th constituency in the 2nd Jatiyo Sangshad elections, a seat he was re-elected to four times.^[1] During the military dictatorship of General Hossain Mohammad Ershad, Akbar Hossain was jailed on five separate occasions for coming into conflict with the regime.^[1] After the ending of the military dictatorship and the election of Khaleda Zia, the country's first female Prime Minister. Hossain returned to government as Minister for the Environment and Forests in October 1993.^[5]

In October 2001, Hossain was appointed Minister for Shipping after the BNP led four-party alliance won the 8th Jatiyo Sangshad elections, with a two-thirds majority and Khaleda Zia became the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for the third time.^[6] He died in Dhaka in 2006 following a massive heart attack.^[7]