He then became actively involved in politics and helped form the United People's Party (UPP) in January, 1974. He went on to become the Vice-President of the UPP.
In 1977, the UPP merged with the Jatiyatabadi Front, Hossain left and joined in the with the formation of the
Bangladesh National Party (BNP). He was first made Special Secretary and then held the position of Joint Secretary General and was one of the Vice-Presidents of the BNP up until his death.
In 1978 he was made Minister for Petroleum and Mineral Resources under the government of President Ziaur Rahman.
Hossain was first elected a Member of the Bangladesh Parliament in 1979, he represented the Comilla 8th constituency in the 2nd
Jatiyo Sangshad elections, a seat he was re-elected to four times.
During the
military dictatorship of General
Hossain Mohammad Ershad, Akbar Hossain was jailed on five separate occasions for coming into conflict with the regime.
After the ending of the military dictatorship and the election of
Khaleda Zia, the country's first female
Prime Minister. Hossain returned to government as Minister for the Environment and Forests in October 1993.
In October 2001 he was appointed Minister for Shipping after the BNP led four-party alliance won the 8th Jatiyo Sangshad elections, with a two-thirds majority and Khaleda Zia became the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for the third time.
He died in
Dhaka aged 65 following a massive
heart attack.
Hossain, Akbar
Hossain, Akbar
Hossain, Akbar
Hossain, Akbar
Hossain, Akbar