Abdul Rasheed Hussain

Abdul Rasheed Hussain (born September 16, 1946) is a historian, linguist and poet, and a former Minister of Cabinet of the Maldives during the Maumoon Abdul Gayoom administration. His first cabinet portfolio was as the Minister of Atolls Administration in 1993. In addition, he has filled other cabinet positions such as Minister of Employment and Labour, Minister of Planning, Human Resources and Environment, Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources, and Minister for Higher Education, Employment and Social Security. He holds a BA (Honours) in Economics from the University of Karachi in Pakistan and is the first Maldivian to hold a graduate degree in Economics. On 27 July 2013, Mr Abdul Rasheed Hussain was awarded the Most Honourable Order of Distinguished Rule of Izzudheen (Nishaan Izzuddeen Izzathuge Verikan), the second highest honour conferred by the Maldivian State. Abdul Rasheed Hussain is currently retired and serves as chairman of Liyuntheringe Gulhun, a literary organization of distinguished writers in the Maldives. He lives in the capital with his wife Moonisa Ibrahim.