Edhem Bičakčić (3 May 1884 – 31 December 1941) was a Bosnian politician who became the only Mayor of Sarajevo to serve two nonconsecutive terms, first from 1928 to 1929, then again from 1935 to 1939. He was a close associate of Mehmed Spaho and a member of the Yugoslav Muslim Organization. Bičakčić died suddenly of a heart attack, aged 57.

Edhem Bičakčić
9th Mayor of Sarajevo
In office
1935 – c. March 1939
Preceded byIbrahim Šarić
Succeeded byMuhamed Zlatar
In office
October 1928 – 1929
Preceded byIbrahim Hadžiomerović
Succeeded byAsim-beg Mutevelić
Personal details
Born(1884-05-03)3 May 1884
Sarajevo, Condominium of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria-Hungary
Died31 December 1941(1941-12-31) (aged 57)
Sarajevo, Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Political partyYugoslav Muslim Organization
SpouseRazija

Early life and family

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Bičakčić was born on 3 May 1884 in Sarajevo, Austria-Hungary, in what is today Bosnia and Herzegovina, to a Bosniak merchant family. His paternal uncle Salih Bičakčić was an Ottoman statesman and one of the leaders of the resistance against the Austro-Hungarian Empire. For his involvement in the resistance, Edhem's uncle was tried before the court-martial of General Josip Filipović, and eventually acquitted due to lack of evidence.[1] Following the acquittal, Salih returned to Sarajevo where he and his brother, Edhem's father, established several banks in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Young Edhem worked on the construction of a small hydropower plant in Hrid, near Sarajevo, on the banks of the Miljacka river.[2]

World War I

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CBS News and the Associated Press reported in 2010 that a postcard sent by Bičakčić, dated 13 June 1915, was discovered by a retired jeweler who purchased it at an antique fair in Long Beach, California.[3][4] Bičakčić had sent a black-and-white photograph as a postcard to his wife Razija, parents and daughters Zekija and Čamka while serving in Hungary during World War I from the town Villány.[5][6][7] The Bosnian American jeweler who discovered the postcard after 95 years, was visiting his native Sarajevo in June 2010 when he coincidentally met Bičakčić's grandson while looking around a local antique shop in downtown Sarajevo.[8] Because the grandson had the same last surname as Edhem Bičakčić, the jeweler presented the postcard to the grandson, who immediately recognized his grandfather on the photograph.[9][10]

Politics

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Bičakčić was elected as the 9th Mayor of Sarajevo in October 1928,[11] taking over for Ibrahim Hadžiomerović. His term lasted one year. He was re-elected as mayor in 1935 and stayed on post until 1939. Bičakčić was the only mayor of Sarajevo to serve two nonconsecutive terms.[12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "KRIZA TRESE, A STIGAO I CIRKUS COLUMBIA". Kliker. 25 June 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  2. ^ "Intervju: Kriza trese, a stigao i cirkus Columbia". Oslobođenje. 25 June 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  3. ^ "Postcard Reaches Soldier's Family After 95 Years". CBS News. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  4. ^ "Razglednica stigla u Sarajevo posle 95 godina". RTS. 19 June 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Razglednica je do Sarajeva putovala dugih 95 godina". 24 sata. 20 June 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  6. ^ "WWI Postcard Reaches Bosnia After Century of Traveling Around the Globe". Balkan Insight. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  7. ^ "Razglednica stigla na odredište posle 95 godina". Blic. 19 June 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  8. ^ "First World War Bosnian postcard finally reaches family". Telegraph. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  9. ^ "Pismo bosanskog vojnika nakon 95 godina stiglo na adresu". Klix. 19 June 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  10. ^ "Ratno pismo stiglo u Sarajevo posle 95 godina". Vesti. 21 June 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  11. ^ Donia, Robert J. (2006). Sarajevo: A Biography; pages 150-151. ISBN 9780472115570. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  12. ^ "Sarajevski gradonačelnici: 1878-2012". Radio Sarajevo. 20 October 2012. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
Political offices
Preceded by
Ibrahim Hadžiomerović
Mayor of Sarajevo
1928–1929
Succeeded by
Asim-beg Mutevelić
Preceded by
Ibrahim Šarić
Mayor of Sarajevo
1935–1939
Succeeded by
Muhamed Zlatar