Jamilur’s death condoled
The country was left in a state of mourning after National Professor, renowned scholar and Civil Engineer Dr Jamilur Reza Choudhury passed away at the age of 77 at home in Dhaka early yesterday
A former adviser to the Caretaker Government, a foremost civil engineer, researcher, and education advocate, Prof Jamilur Reza Chowdhury had a heart attack at home around sehri time, according to family sources.
He was rushed to the city's Square Hospitals where doctors declared him dead around 4:00am.
The passing of one of the country's foremost intellectuals and a major driving force behind the infrastructural development of the country drew messages of condolences and tributes from all quarters.
President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, ministers, distinguished personalities, top leaders of different political and socio-economic-cultural organisations, educational institutions and a host of people from different walks of life yesterday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the demise of the intellectual giant.
In his condolence message, the head of state expressed profound shock and sorrow at the death of Dr Jamilur Reza Choudhury and prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family.
Expressing deep shock, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her condolence message said, Dr Jamilur Reza Chowdhury, as an eminent engineer, played an important role in the country's infrastructural development.
She recalled with profound respect the outstanding contributions of Dr Jamilur Reza Chowhudy to different development projects including the Bangabandhu Bridge, Padma Multipurpose Bridge, Dhaka Elevated Expressway and Karnaphuli Tunnel in which he led the expert panel.
Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, in a condolence message, said, "He [Dr Choudhury] was always involved with my endeavours. We were supposed to hold a phone meeting around noon today with him in the chair. We were taking preparations for that."
Terming Dr Jamilur Reza Chowdhury a "long-time friend", Dr Yunus said, "He was an extraordinary person. He was capable of understanding any complex issue instantly and providing timely advice on that."
Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, a host of ministers and state ministers including Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque, Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, Law Minister Anisul Huq, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, Information Minister Hasan Mahmud, Planning Minister MA Mannan, Post and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar and Prime Minister's adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman expressed deep shock at the demise of Prof Jamilur Reza Chowdhury.
Different socio-cultural, professional bodies and educational institutions including Gyantapas Abdur Razzaq Foundation, Bangladesh Institute of Planners, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon, BUET, University Grants Commission, National University, Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, National Heart Foundation, Movement for World Education Rights, Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan), a civil society platform, also expressed deep condolence at the death of the national professor.
In a statement, Gyantapas Abdur Razzaq Foundation said, "He was an exceptional professor known for infecting his students with the joy of learning and the excitement of research, an inspiring leader in education celebrated for his vision, integrity, and unfailing courtesy, an enlightened human being who exemplified the principles of science, humanity and social justice, and an admired friend and relative adored by all for his impish sense of humor and his phenomenal memory."
Different political parties and distinguished personalities including Awami League, BNP, Jatiya Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Gonoforum, Opposition Leader Raushan Ershad and eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain also expressed deep shock at the passing of Prof Jamilur Reza Chowdhury.
Dr Jamilur Reza Chowdhury, who led the experts' panels of Bangabandhu Bridge, Padma Multipurpose Bridge, Dhaka Elevated Expressway, Karnaphuli Tunnel and many other ongoing development projects, left behind a wife, one son, a daughter and a host of relatives and admirers to mourn his death.
He was also the founding vice-chancellor of Brac University till 2010, and In 2017 was awarded the Ekushey Padak by the Government of Bangladesh in the category of science and technology.
Comments