UGC accords reception to newly-appointed national professors

He got many opportunities to live abroad. Even the globally renowned structural engineer Dr Fazlur Rahman Khan insisted Prof Dr Jamilur Reza Choudhury several times to come and stay in Chicago as the former was familiar with his work and reviewed many of his publications on structural designing.

The offers came at a time when FR Khan was working on the design of Sears Tower, the tallest building in the world until 1998, and the 100-storey John Hancock Centre. Prof Jamilur, however, opted to stay in Bangladesh.

“What my country has given me, I would not have had that sense of accomplishment in any other country of the world,” said Prof Jamilur, a national professor, at a reception accorded to him and two other national professors -- Rafiqul Islam and Anisuzzaman.

University Grants Commission (UGC), the statutory apex body in the field of university education, accorded the reception to the newly appointed national professors at its auditorium in Dhaka yesterday.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid and UGC Chairman Prof Abdul Mannan handed crests and citations and greeted them with uttorio (ceremonial scarf) at the programme attended by vice-chancellors of different universities, educationists, UGC members and officials.

On June 19, the government appointed them as national professors for the next five years. The eminent personalities thanked the UGC for the reception.

Sharing his teaching experience, Prof Jamilur said he started teaching 55 years ago.

“My engineering results came out on September 27, 1963. The next day when I went to meet the department head, he congratulated me and asked me to conduct a 3rd year class as the teacher was absent. It was without preparation and formal appointment.

“That is how my teaching life began, from student life to teaching without any gap,” he said, adding that apart from teaching he was also involved with numerous important projects.

About the national professorship, he said, “I am not sure whether I'm eligible for it [national professor]. Yet the government appointed me and it is one of the best achievements in my life.”

Prof Rafiqul Islam, an eminent scholar, author and cultural activist, said this month marks 60 years of his teaching career and the honour bestowed on him makes it even more special.

He recalled the contributions of his school, college and university teachers and said he has been fortunate to have several students who went on to become noted public figures including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

“The love and respect of my teachers and students brought me this far,” said Rafiqul Islam, a professor emeritus.

In his brief speech, Anisuzzaman, also a professor emeritus of Dhaka University, said before his matriculation he had made up his mind that he would study Bangla literature and pursue a teaching career.

Even when he retired as a university professor, he never thought that he would be honoured with professor emeritus let alone becoming a national professor.

“What I could give to teaching and my country, my country gave me many more times that. I am grateful to all,” said Prof Anisuzzaman.

Terming them the “lighthouse”, Nurul Islam Nahid said the country feels honoured by honouring these eminent personalities.

UGC Chairman Prof Abdul Mannan said these three personalities are much revered nationwide for their admirable

qualities.