Datuk A.K.M. Shahidul Islam hails from a respectable & Jaminder family of Northern District of Pabna. He did his H.S.C. (Higher Secondary Certificate) from Pabna Edward College and joined Marine Academy, Engineering Branch in 1965 and passed out in 1967.
He had his apprenticeship & practical training from Karachi Port Authority Workshop and joined the than National Shipping Corporation of Pakistan in 1970 as Junior Engineer.
After liberation in 1972 he started shipping business in Chittagong with other activities like Cargo Surveyor, Clearing Forwarding and Stevedoring etc. To get more professional experience he did his Diploma in Ship Chartering from New York Maritime College, USA in 1974. Since then he has got vast experience in shipping business for last 46 years.
Datuk A.K.M. Shahidul Islam is the Founder Managing Director of Eastern Overseas Shipping Lines LTD, established in the year 1972, and have led the company for 36years after his retirement as Managing Director. He served as the Vice Chairman of the company from 2005-2011, and was later appointed as the Chairman of the company from 2011 until his sad demise in the year 2021.
He persuaded MISC Berhad (Malaysia International Shipping Corporation) to commence shipping business since 1983 when Bangladesh open for containerisation. MISC Berhad found opportunity in Bangladesh and finally appointed Mr. A.K.M. Shahidul Islam company Eastern Overseas Shipping Lines Ltd. as General Agent from January,1987. With his involvement MISC Berhad & promotion of trade & business Malaysian Government was pleased to appointed him as Honorary Consul of Malaysia in Chittagong from the 5th April,1988 and till date he has been serving for last over 26 years.
He took initiative to promote further trade & commerce between the two countries and became the founder President of Bangladesh Malaysia Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BMCCI) in 2003.
As Agent of MISC Berhad he attended numbers of Seminar & World Agents meeting in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Cape town in South Africa, Sydney in Australia & London in U.K. He also attended Regional Conference of MISC Berhad in Bombay in India, Dubai in UAE, Singapore & Bangkok in Thailand.
Datuk A.K.M. Shahidul Islam also attended 1st Honorary Consul meeting held at Kuala Lumpur on 1992, 2nd on 2005 & 3rd on 2007. As a recognition of his contribution towards the meritorious service & tireless involvement for promoting warm & cordial relations between Malaysia & Bangladesh he was awarded “DARJAH KEBESARAN PANGLIMA JASA NEGARA (P.J.N.) (Honorary) that carries the title ‘Datuk’ in June,2007 and His Majesty King of Malaysia confirm the title on August,2007 and High Commission of Malaysia in Dhaka, Bangladesh also confirmed on the occasion of His Majesty birthday on 7th of June,2008.
Datuk A.K.M. Shahidul Islam also served as President of Consular Corps of Bangladesh on 2010-2011 which is association of 50 (fifty) Nos. of Honorary Consuls from different countries in Bangladesh. In his time consular Corps was recognised by the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Consular Corps inauguration was held on 6th February, 2011 which was chaired by Late President Zillur Rahman, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh which was also attended by FICAC President Mr. Arnold Foote and Secretary General Mr. Aykut Eken.
Datuk A.K.M. Shahidul Islam married to Datin Shahnaz Islam and son Mr Sharjeel Islam & one daughter Ms Tazreen Islam.