Kamal Hossain

Kamal Hossain (born 20 April 1937) is a Bangladeshi lawyer, politician, and human rights activist. He was one of the principal drafters of the Constitution of Bangladesh and served as the first Foreign Minister of Bangladesh. He is the founder and president of the Gono Forum political party. Born in Kolkata (now in India), Hossain studied at Oxford University, earning a degree in law. He was a close associate of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and played a key role in drafting the Bangladesh Constitution after independence. He served as Minister of Law, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Minister of Petroleum and Minerals in the post-independence government. As Foreign Minister, Hossain represented Bangladesh at the United Nations and worked to establish the country's diplomatic relations with the world. He was also involved in the negotiation of the 1974 India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement. Hossain founded the Gono Forum party in 1992 as a progressive, secular political platform. He has been a vocal advocate for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Bangladesh. Despite political marginalization, he remains an influential voice for liberal democracy in the country.