ATM Syed Hossain

Hossain was a gazetted officer in the East Pakistan Civil Service.^[3][4] Before the independence of Bangladesh, he had the rank of a section officer in the Establishment Division, the service's personnel arm, which is responsible for appointments and transfers.^[1] After independence, his career received a boost from his brother-in-law, the new president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.^[1][5][6] He was promoted to the rank of joint secretary in 1972.^[7][8]

In 1973, he was an additional secretary in the Bangladesh Civil Service based in the Ministry of Establishment.^[9] He was a member of the Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League central committee, the Awami League-led one-party government.^[9]

Hossain was arrested on 23 August 1975, after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the 15 August 1975 Bangladesh coup d'état, along with 25 others.^[2] He was removed from his office.^[10] Hossain was detained for two and a half years by the military regime.^[11] After being released, he successfully campaigned for the release of the location of the graves of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's family members killed in the 15 August coup.^[12]

Hossain married Sheikh Khadija Hossain Lily, the youngest sister of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and aunt of Sheikh Hasina.^[12][11] His son, Sadek Hossain Bablu, died on 19 December 2020.^[12] His daughter, Rosy Jamal, married Sheikh Jamal, son of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.^[11][13] His second daughter, Habiba Zaman, married Shahaduz Zaman on 10 August 1975.^[11] Another daughter, Hamida Wadud Poly, was married to MA Wadud, the father of former minister Dipu Moni. His wife died in 2014.^[12]