Mr. Md. Zillur Rahman, the 19th President of the People?s Republic of Bangladesh, was born in a respectable Muslim family under Bhairab Thana of Kishoreganj district on March 09, 1929. His father late Meher Ali Mian was a renowned lawyer, Chairman of the then Mymensingh Local Board and Member of the District Board.

Mr. Zillur Rahman started his academic life in the district town of Mymensingh. He passed Matriculation (Grade 10 exam.) from Bhairab K. B. High School in 1945 and later obtained Intermediate of Arts (I. A.) certificate from Dhaka Intermediate College. In 1954, he got his M.A. with Honors in History and L. L. B. degree from the University of Dhaka.

Mr. Zillur Rahman played an active role in the great Language Movement in 1952. He presided over a student gathering held in the historic Amtala (Mango grove) of Dhaka University on 19 February 1952 to voice the demand for Bangla as the State Language. The work plan of 21 February was taken from that gathering. Mr. Zillur Rahman was one of the prominent student-leaders among the 11 who met at the pond-side between Fazlul Huq Hall and Dhaka Hall on 20 February 1952 and took the decision to break the prohibitory order under section144.

In 1953, he was elected uncontested Vice-President (VP) of Student Union of Fazlul Huq Hall, University of Dhaka. He was expelled from the University and his Masters Degree withdrawn for his active participation in the Language Movement. However, facing intense agitation by the students, the university authority was compelled to restore his degree. At the time of Jukto-Front (United Front) Election in 1954, he was made the Vice-Chairman of Election Steering Committee for the greater Mymensingh district. He also performed his duties as the President of erstwhile East Pakistan Awami Sechchhasebak League (Volunteer front of the party). He was the founder President of Kishoreganj Awami League in 1956. He was elected General-Secretary of Dhaka District Bar Association in the Sixties.

Mr. Zillur Rahman came in close touch with Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1947, when as a student of Dhaka Intermediate College; he was campaigning on referendum in Sylhet during the British regime. He took part in all mass-movements, including the movement against military rule in 1962, Six-point Movement in 1966 and the mass-upsurge of 1969 as a close associate of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In 1970, he was elected Member of the National Assembly (MNA) of Pakistan.

Mr. Zillur Rahman was one of the veteran organizers of Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. He was associated with the Sadhin Bangla Betar Kendro (a Radio station of Independent Bangladesh) and the publication of newspaper named, ?Joy Bangla?, the mouth-piece of the then Mujibnagar Government. During the war of liberation, the occupation regime of Pakistan sentenced him to twenty years of imprisonment in absentia, and confiscated all his properties. They also cancelled his Membership of the National Assembly.

In 1972, immediately after the great victory in the war of liberation, as a Member of Bangladesh Constituent Assembly, Mr. Zillur Rahman actively took part in formulation of the Constitution of Bangladesh. He was elected Member of Parliament (MP) in 1973 and 1986 respectively. In 1996, he was elected MP in the 7th Parliament and became a Cabinet Minister. He held the portfolio of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development & Cooperatives. Apart from his Ministership, as the Deputy Leader in the Parliament he successfully performed the responsibilities of this prestigious post till 2001. He was again elected MP in the 8th Parliament in 2001.

Mr. Zillur Rahman led the party efficiently at a very crucial time with courage and farsightedness after the arrest of Sheikh Hasina, the President of Bangladesh Awami League, on July 16, 2007 following the promulgation of State of Emergency on January 11, 2007. During her 11-month captive life in Special Jail and subsequently six-month stay abroad for treatment, Mr. Zillur Rahman played a vital role as the Acting President of the Party. He made immense contributions in keeping the Party united and restoring Democracy in the country with his political prudence and wisdom. Bangladesh Awami League won landslide victory in the 9th Parliament Election held on 29 December 2008. He became a Member of Parliament for the Sixth time. He played a pivotal role as the Deputy Leader of Parliament before taking oath as the 19th President of the Republic on February 12, 2009.

In 1972, after the Independence, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was elected the President while Mr. Md. Zillur Rahman was elected the General-Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League. He was re-elected General-Secretary of the Party in 1974. He became the first General Secretary of Bangladesh Krishok Shramik Awami League in 1975. After the brutal assassination of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family in 1975, he was put behind bars for 4 years. Mr. Zillur Rahman played an important role as Presidium Member of Bangladesh Awami League In 1981, when Sheikh Hasina, the elder daughter of Bangabandhu, returned home after seven years of exile. He suffered imprisonment again in 1986 while he was a Member of Parliament, for his active role against the autocratic government. He was elected General-Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League in 1992 and 1997 respectively through the Party?s Council.

Veteran woman leader Mrs. Ivy Rahman, the beloved wife of Mr. Zillur Rahman, was the president of Bangladesh Mohila Awami League. She was seriously injured in the brutal grenade attack by miscreants on 21 August 2004 at a grand-rally of Bangladesh Awami League at Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka and embraced tragic death after two days of the heinous incident. Till her death, the Ex-President of Bangladesh Mohila Awami League and Ex-Chairperson of Jatio Mohila Songstha, Mrs. Ivy Rahman was the Secretary of Bangladesh Mohila Awami League.

Mr. Zillur Rahman is blessed with a son and two daughters.

Mr. Zillur Rahman was sworn in as the 19th President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh on 12 February 2009.

Mrs. Ivey Rahman, the beloved wife of the Hon'ble President Zillur Rahman and a veteran leader of Bangladesh Awami League died after two days following the brutal grenade attack on 21 August 2004 at a grand-rally of Bangladesh Awami League at Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka. She was the Ex-President of Bangladesh Mohila Awami League and Ex-Chairperson of Jatio Mohila Songstha. Until her death, she was the Secretary of Bangladesh Mohila Awami League. Mr. Zillur Rahman is blessed with a son and two daughters.

Mr. Md. Zillur Rahman sworn in of the office of the President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh on 12 February 2009 as the 19th President.