Prof Zillur Rahman Siddiqui no more
Eminent educationist and author Prof Zillur Rahman Siddiqui has died at the age of 86.
The former adviser of the caretaker government felt sick at his Banani residence after dinner around 11:45pm yesterday, said his son Dr Shakeel Akhtar.
He was rushed to Samorita Hospital immediately where doctors declared him dead, Shakeel said.
Siddqui’s granddaughter Abanti Shama Afroz told The Daily Star that his body will be kept at Jahagirnagar University for an hour from 8:00am tomorrow as he served the university as vice-chancellor for two terms.
Then, the body will be kept at the premises of Central Shaheed Minar from 11:00am to 1:00pm, Abanti said.
He will be buried after his second janaza at Dhaka University mosque after Zohr prayer, she added.
The much-revered educationist, who was honoured with Bangla Academy Award and Swadhinata Padak, left behind his wife, three sons and a daughter.
Two of his sons live abroad and the decision of his namaz-e-janaza and burial will be taken after consulting with them.
Born at Durgapur in Jhenidah on February 23, 1928, Siddiqui matriculated from Jessore Zilla School in 1945. Later, he studied at Presidency College in Kolkata. He completed BA and MA in 1950 and 1951 respectively in English Literature at Dhaka University.
Later, Siddiqui studied English literature at Worcester College of Oxford University from 1952-54.
After teaching at Dhaka College, he moved to Rajshahi University to teach English. Later on, Siddiqui started to teach at Jahangirnagar University. There, he served as vice-chancellor for two terms between 1976 and 1984.
After retiring from JU, he took over as VC of Gono Bishwabidyalay in 2000 and retired voluntarily in 2003.
Prof Siddiqui served as an adviser to the first caretaker government in 1991 heading the ministry of education.
For his contribution to literature, he was honored with Alaol Shahitya Purashkar in 1977, Bangla Academy Award in 1979, Alokto Shahitya Purashkar in 1998 and Swadhinata Padak in 2010.
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