S.M. Abul Kalam

Kalam graduated from University of Dhaka.

Kalam contested the 2001 parliamentary election as a candidate of Awami League from Chittagong-10. He lost the election to Bangladesh Nationalist Party candidate Morshed Khan.{{cite news |title=Developing road, industry common poll pledges |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-68444 |accessdate=7 July 2020 |work=The Daily Star |date=24 December 2008 |language=en}}

Kalam was a member of Chittagong Development Authority.{{cite news |title=SM Abul Kalam new envoy to Kuwait |url=https://www.banglanews24.com/national/article/50875/SM-Abul-Kalam-new-envoy-to-Kuwait |accessdate=7 July 2020 |work=banglanews24.com |date=20 March 2016 |language=en}} He served as the president of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He was a director of Argani Bank. He was as a member of Chittagong Stock Exchange. He is the vice-president of South Chittagong City Awami League. On 20 March 2016, he was appointed the ambassador of Bangladesh to Kuwait.{{cite news |title=Ctg AL leader new ambassador to Kuwait |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/city/ctg-al-leader-new-ambassador-kuwait-1196908 |accessdate=7 July 2020 |work=The Daily Star |date=20 March 2016 |language=en}} On 19 April 2020, his contract of ambassadorship to Kuwait ended. The government extended his contract till 31 July 2020.{{cite news |title=Six ambassadors get contract extension |url=https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/six-ambassadors-get-contract-extension-1592235376 |accessdate=7 July 2020 |work=The Financial Express |language=en}} He reported in May 2020 that due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, he expected a thousands of migrant Bangladeshi workers would be forced to leave Kuwait.{{cite news |title=Thousands of Bangladeshi workers could leave Kuwait next week |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/1670106/world |accessdate=7 July 2020 |work=Arab News |date=6 May 2020 |language=en}} In January 2019, the embassy was attacked and ransacked by migrant workers over unpaid wages according to Kalam.{{cite news |title=Demand for Arrears, Work Permit: Anger, chaos in Kuwait |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/news/demand-arrears-work-permit-anger-chaos-kuwait-1689700 |accessdate=7 July 2020 |work=The Daily Star |date=19 January 2019 |language=en}}

Kalam defended and protected Mohammad Shahid Islam, Member of Parliament, in Kuwait. Shahid has been detain by the Criminal Investigation Department (Kuwait) on allegations of human trafficking. Kalam wrote a letter to Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs defended Shahid when he was being investigated. According to Bangladeshi journalists based in Kuwait he asked Kuwait to deport Bangladeshi journalist or blacklist them to prevent them from re-entering Kuwait. He had Jamuna TV correspondent, Ehsanul Haque Khokon, detained and deported from Kuwait after he reported on workers protests.{{cite news |title=Envoy defended lawmaker Shahid |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/envoy-defended-lawmaker-shahid-1926293 |accessdate=7 July 2020 |work=The Daily Star |date=7 July 2020 |language=en}} AK Abdul Momen, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, stated that Kalam had been unable to inform them on the arrest of Shahid. Despite being the ambassador of Bangladesh to Kuwait for almost 5 years he was unable to gather information on the detention and charges against Shahid.{{cite news |title=Foreign Minister: The arrest of MP Papul is disgraceful for the country |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2020/06/23/foreign-minister-the-arrest-of-mp-papul-is-disgraceful-for-the-country |accessdate=7 July 2020 |work=Dhaka Tribune |date=23 June 2020}}

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Category:Awami League politicians

Category:Living people

Category:University of Dhaka alumni

Category:Ambassadors of Bangladesh to Kuwait

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)