Annisul Huq


Annisul Huq was a Bangladeshi entrepreneur, television show host and the mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation. According to the affidavits submitted to the Election Commission in March 2015, he had amassed a net worth of US$3.25 million.

Early life and education

Huq was born on 27 October 1952, Sonapur at Sonagazi in Noakhali to Shariful Huq and Rowshan Ara Huq. He passed SSC from Dinajpur Zilla School in 1970. He completed his bachelor's degree from the University of Rajshahi and had a masters in economics from the University of Chittagong. His father was an official of the Bangladesh Ansar.

Career

Television

Huq was a regular host on Bangladesh Television in the early 1980s. He had hosted interviews with politically significant personalities.

Business

Huq established his own business, Mohammadi Group in 1986 and had been the chairperson of the company before his death. As of 2007, the group had 7,000 employees in the textile and garments sector. The conglomerate is also involved in real estate, IT, a power generation company that directly contributes to the national grid and a distribution company that represents multiple foreign television channels. The group has an independent TV channel named Nagorik.
Huq served as the president of several apex bodies including the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Federation of the Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Independent Power Producers Association.

Politics

Huq was elected the mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation on ticket of Bangladesh Awami League in the City Corporation election of 2015. He was a surprise pick by the Awami League as no other leaders of the party stood for the position.
As mayor, Huq promised to build Dhaka into a clean, green and safe city, although he received some flack for his involvement of foreigners. 20,000 illegal billboards were removed as part of the clean-up project. Mayor Huq made it clear that he will not put up with resistance from vested interests in his clean-up efforts.
Huq also promised to reduce corruption among governmental employees.

Awards

Huq's brother General Abu Belal Mohammad Shafiul Huq was the chief of Bangladesh Army. Huq was married to Rubana Huq. Together they have three children – Navidul Huq, Wamiq Umaira and Tanisha Fariamaan Huq.

Death

In July 2017, Huq was admitted to a hospital in London. He was diagnosed with cerebral vasculitis. After being in a sedative state for more than three months, he died on 30 November 2017.