My 'jail life' extended for 5 more years

President Abdul Hamid yesterday said his “jail life” was prolonged for a few more years.

He made the remarks while talking to reporters at the journalist lounge of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

“I thought I would be a free man after April 23 [the date of expiry of Hamid's five year tenure as the country's president]. But my jail life was extended for another five years,” a smiling Hamid told reporters.

He was re-elected unopposed as the 21st president of Bangladesh on February 7.

Hamid took office on April 24, 2013, and his five-year term expires on April 23.

Before becoming president, he was elected lawmaker seven times and also served as the speaker twice.

He became acting president on March 14, 2013, after Zillur Rahman, president at that time, was admitted to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore on March 10. Zillur breathed his last at the hospital on March 20.

Talking to reporters yesterday, Hamid said he was writing his autobiography.

The president, however, said it was difficult for him to make time to write due to different state programmes.

Exchanging pleasantries with the journalists during his stay at the journalist lounge, the president also enquired about their problems in covering parliament sessions and instructed the parliament secretariat to resolve those.

President's Press Secretary Joynal Abedin and Bangladesh Parliament Journalist Association President Uttam Chakraborty, among others, were present at the time.