Biman Prasad

Prasad was born in Dreketi in Vanua Levu and was educated at Muanidevo Indian School, Dreketi Junior Secondary School and Labasa College.{{cite web |url=http://www.usp.ac.fj/index.php?id=11980 |title=Professor Biman Prasad |publisher=University of the South Pacific |accessdate=2014-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913045541/http://www.usp.ac.fj/index.php?id=11980 |archive-date=2014-09-13 |url-status=dead }} After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics and economics from the University of the South Pacific, he pursued a Masters of Commerce from the University of New South Wales and Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Queensland.{{cite web |url=http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=64778 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140923062850/http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=64778 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-09-23 |title=Rice farmers son excels in academia |publisher=Fiji Times |date=2007-06-17 |accessdate=2014-09-23 }}

He married Rajni Chand in 1986. They have two children.{{Cite web|last=Kumar|first=Wanshika|date=2021-02-20|title=Dr Chand: Hard work key to success|url=https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/dr-chand-hard-work-key-to-success/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-14|website=FijiTimes|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514233725/https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/dr-chand-hard-work-key-to-success/ |archive-date=2021-05-14 }}

Prasad became a lecturer at the University of the South Pacific in 1986.{{cite web |url=http://fijione.tv/usp-farewells-politics-bound-academic-dr-biman-prasad/ |title=USP farewells politics bound academic, Dr Biman Prasad |author=Dreu Vukailagi |publisher=FijiOne |date=2014-04-14 |accessdate=2014-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028174533/http://fijione.tv/usp-farewells-politics-bound-academic-dr-biman-prasad/ |archive-date=2014-10-28 |url-status=dead }} He was President of the USP staff Association from 1999 - 2006, head of the School of Economics from 2003 to 2007, and Professor of Economics and Dean of the faculty of Business and Economics from 2007 to 2011. He is Associate Editor of the Journal of Fijian Studies and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Pacific Studies. Professor Prasad has published several books and journal articles. He has done consultancy work for many regional and international agencies and governments in the South Pacific region.

In April 2014, Prasad resigned as Professor of Economics from the University of the South Pacific to pursue a political career. He continues to hold Adjunct Professorships at the Griffith University, James Cook University and Punjabi University in Patiala, India.

Prasad stood as a candidate for the National Federation Party in the 1999 election, but was unsuccessful. In 2001, he was nominated as President of the party, but declined.

In March 2014 Prasad was elected as leader of the NFP.{{cite web |url=http://fijione.tv/dr-bman-prasad-is-the-new-nfp-leader/ |title=Dr. Biman Prasad is the new NFP Leader |author=Maciu Bolaitamana |publisher=FijiOne |date=2014-03-29 |accessdate=2014-09-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927011415/http://fijione.tv/dr-bman-prasad-is-the-new-nfp-leader/ |archive-date=27 September 2015}} He competed in the 2014 election, winning 8,097 votes, the fourth highest-ranked candidate.{{cite web |url=http://www.electionsfiji.gov.fj/2014-election-results/ |title=2014 Election Results |publisher=Fiji Elections Office |accessdate=2014-09-23 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140921200245/http://www.electionsfiji.gov.fj/2014-election-results/ |archive-date=2014-09-21 }} His party received 5.2 per cent of the popular vote and 3 of the 50 parliamentary seats. Prasad subsequently became the Shadow Minister for Finance, Planning and National Statistics and Chairman of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee.[http://www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/23799/opposition-names-shadow-ministers- Shadow Minister]- Retrieved 2016-06-13 His efforts to use the Public Accounts Committee to scrutinise the government's accounts resulted initially in a government boycott,{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/259212/fiji's-prasad-hits-back-after-pac-meeting-deferred |title=Fiji's Prasad hits back after PAC meeting deferred |publisher=RNZ |date=12 November 2014 |access-date=29 December 2022}} and in 2016 in his removal as chair.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/303674/prasad-says-fiji-committee-toothless |title=Prasad says Fiji committee toothless |publisher=RNZ |date=12 May 2016 |access-date=29 December 2022}} In 2015 he led an unsuccessful attempt to revoke the controversial media decree, which limited freedom of the press.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/263952/nfp-calls-for-fiji-media-law-repeal |title=NFP calls for Fiji media law repeal |publisher=RNZ |date=19 January 2015 |access-date=29 December 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/273881/controversial-fiji-media-decree-to-remain |title=Controversial Fiji Media Decree to remain |publisher=RNZ |date=18 May 2015 |access-date=29 December 2022}} He also called for the government to lift its entry ban on Fijian historian Brij Lal, who had been forced into exile in Australia.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/269469/nfp-pushes-fiji-govt-to-let-academic-back-home |title=NFP pushes Fiji Govt to let academic back home |publisher=RNZ |date=24 March 2015 |access-date=29 December 2022}} In September 2016 he was one of a group of opposition MPs arrested after attending an NGO meeting to discuss the military-imposed constitution.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/313023/fijian-opposition-leaders-remain-in-custody |title=Fijian opposition leaders remain in custody |publisher=RNZ |date=11 September 2016 |access-date=29 December 2022}} He was released after spending a weekend in jail,{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/313059/prominent-fijians-released-after-weekend-in-police-cells |title=Prominent Fijians released after weekend in police cells |publisher=RNZ |date=12 September 2016 |access-date=29 December 2022}} and no charges were laid.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/315845/no-charges-for-detained-prominent-fijians |title=No charges for detained prominent Fijians |publisher=RNZ |date=17 October 2016 |access-date=29 December 2022}} After his release he criticised the government's claims that Fiji had returned to democracy.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/313157/nfp-leader-says-fiji-is-no-democracy |title=NFP leader says Fiji is no democracy |publisher=RNZ |date=13 September 2016 |access-date=29 December 2022}}

He was re-elected at the 2018 elections,{{cite web |url=https://www.fijitimes.com/2018-general-election-nfp-trio-to-join-opposition/ |title=2018 General Election: NFP trio to join Opposition |author=Talebula Kate |publisher=Fiji Times |date=18 November 2018 |accessdate=18 November 2018}} winning 12,137 votes. In October 2019 he called for the 2013 Constitution of Fiji to be reviewed, as it has been imposed on Fiji by the military regime.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/401075/call-for-review-of-fiji-s-constitution |title=Call for review of Fiji's constitution |publisher=RNZ |date=16 October 2019 |access-date=29 December 2022}} He contrasted this with the 1997 Constitution of Fiji, which had been developed by a process of public consultation. In October 2020 he was investigated by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption over donations made to the NFP.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/428530/fiji-s-nfp-leader-investigated-by-anti-corruption-body |title=Fiji's NFP leader investigated by anti-corruption body |publisher=RNZ |date=16 October 2020 |access-date=29 December 2022}} He subsequently sued supervisor of elections Mohammed Saneem for defamation over the allegations.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/429946/fiji-s-nfp-takes-legal-action-against-supervisor-of-elections |title=Fiji's NFP takes legal action against Supervisor of Elections |publisher=RNZ |date=5 November 2020 |access-date=29 December 2022}} On 25 July 2021 Prasad was arrested by Fijian police after criticising government moves to amend land legislation.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/447669/fiji-opposition-mps-taken-in-by-police |title=Fiji opposition MPs taken in by police |publisher=RNZ |date=25 July 2021 |access-date=25 July 2021}}

In the leadup to the 2022 election he was arrested by police on charges of "indecently insulting or annoying a person".{{cite web |url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2022/10/27/nfp-leader-biman-prasad-charged-on-bail/ |title=NFP Leader Biman Prasad Charged, On Bail |publisher=Fiji Sun |author=Inoke Rabonu |date=27 October 2022 |access-date=29 December 2022}} The director of public prosecutions subsequently refused to lay charges,{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/478379/fiji-opposition-leader-prasad-escapes-charges-over-complaint |title=Fiji opposition leader Prasad escapes charges over complaint |publisher=RNZ |date=9 November 2022 |access-date=29 December 2022}} and criticised police for not investigating the alleged incident properly.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/478510/war-of-words-in-fiji-over-decision-not-to-charge-opposition-leader |title=War of words in Fiji over decision not to charge opposition leader |publisher=RNZ |date=11 November 2022 |access-date=29 December 2022}} It was subsequently revealed that Prasad had been taking legal action against the accuser's husband.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/478564/prasad-s-lawyers-call-fiji-police-commissioner-s-actions-unprecedented |title=Prasad's lawyers call Fiji police commissioner's actions unprecedented |publisher=RNZ |date=11 November 2022 |access-date=29 December 2022}}

He was re-elected in the 2022 election{{Cite news |last=Singh |first=Indira |date=18 December 2022 |title=Top 55 confirmed |work=FBC |url=https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/fijian-elections/top-55-confirmed/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221218063858/https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/fijian-elections/top-55-confirmed/ |archive-date=18 December 2022}} with 11355 votes.{{cite web |url=https://2022results.feo.org.fj/Home/CandidateResults?Id=255&CandidateBallotNumber=427&Year=2022+Official |title=Biman Chand Prasad (427) |publisher=Fijian Elections Office |access-date=29 December 2022}} On 24 December 2022 he was appointed a Deputy Prime Minister (one of three) and Minister for Finance, Strategic Planning, National Developments, and Statistics in the coalition government of Sitiveni Rabuka.{{cite web |url=https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/parliament/siromi-turaga-sworn-in-as-new-ag/ |title=Siromi Turaga sworn in as new AG |publisher=FBC News |author=Apenisa Waqairadovu |work=Fiji Broadcasting Corporation |date=24 December 2022 |access-date=24 December 2022}} One of his first actions as Minister was to reinstate funding for the University of the South Pacific, reversing the Bainimarama regime's funding freeze.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/481482/fiji-government-to-reinstate-university-of-south-pacific-grant-contributions |title=Fiji government to reinstate University of South Pacific grant contributions |publisher=RNZ |date=27 December 2022 |access-date=29 December 2022}}

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Category:Living people

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