Life Sketch of Mr. A H Mahmood Ali, MP

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Mr. Mahmood Ali received B.A. Honours (1962) and M.A. (1963) Degrees in Economics from Dhaka University.  He worked as the lecturer in Economics, Dhaka University 1964-66.

Later Mr. Ali joined the erstwhile Pakistan Foreign Service in 1966. He was posted as Vice-Consul of Pakistan in New York in 1968. Immediately after arriving in New York in 1968, he started to organize the Bengali Community in the United States.He joined the Bangladesh Liberation Movement in April, 1971 and appointed as the Representative of the Provisional Government of Bangladesh at Mujibnagar in United States in May, 1971.

He worked for Bangladesh's independence in the U.S. and at the United Nations. He was Executive Assistant to Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury, Chief Overseas Representative of the Mujibnagar Government and Leader of the Bangladesh Delegation to the United Nations in 1971.

After independence, he served as Representative to the United Nations and later also as Acting Consul General in New York.

He served in various capacities at the Foreign Ministry in Dhaka and at Bangladesh Missions abroad: First Secretary, Counsellor and Deputy High Commissioner in New Delhi, India (1977-79). Director-General for Administration; International Organizations; United Nations and Economic Affairs; Policy Planning; South Asia; Human Rights (1979-82). Deputy Chief of Mission with the rank of Ambassador in Beijing, China (1983-1986). Ambassador to Bhutan (1986-90). As Additional Foreign Secretary (Bilateral), he handled South Asia and Human Rights among other subjects. He negotiated and signed the Tin Bigha Corridor Implementation Agreement with India (1992). He also negotiated the Burmese Refugees Repatriation Agreement with Myanmar 1992.

Mr. Ali was the Ambassador to Germany with concurrent accreditation to Austria, Czech and Slovac Republics (1992-1995). Ambassador to Nepal (February to October 1996).

He was the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom with concurrent accreditation to Ireland (1996-2001).

He retired from active service in April, 2001 and joined the Awami League Party and served as Member of the Awami League Central Election Committee in 2001.

He was appointed as a Member of the Central Advisory Council of the Awami League (Dec. 2002). Later appointed also as Co-chairman, Awami League Sub-Committee on International Affairs.

He was elected to Bangladesh Parliament as Awami League candidate from a rural constituency in Dinajpur in Northern Bangladesh in December, 2008. He was elected as Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was appointed as the Minister for Disaster Management and Relief following the establishment of a separate Ministry for Disaster Management and Relief in September, 2012.

Following the installation of an all-party election-time Government on 21 November, 2013, Mr. Ali was appointed as the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

            Mr. Ali likes reading, music and games, specially tennis.

            Mr. and Mrs. Ali have two grown up sons.