Kashem was elected to parliament in 2008 from Chittagong-3 as a Bangladesh Awami League candidate. He served as the chairman of the parliamentary committee for the Ministry of Commerce.
Controversy Kashem's son, SM Al Mamun, tried to grab land from
ship breaking companies in
Sitakunda Upazila for his ship breaking company, Unique Ship-breaking Yard, on 7 October 2009. His son also assaulted journalists trying to cover the incident. Kashem later apologized for his son's actions. == Electoral history==