Engineer Ibrahim passes away

Engineer Muhammad Ibrahim, who redesigned Jamarat site in Mina of Saudi Arabia's Mecca to save hajj pilgrims from fatalities or injuries during throwing stone at walls representing the devil, died at his residence in the capital's Mohammadpur yesterday. He was 75.

While throwing pebbles at the devil during hajj in 1994, he witnessed a tragic stampede that killed about 270 pilgrims. After returning to the country, he wrote an article on “Modification of Jamarat” published in The Bangladesh Observer (now defunct) on March 2, 1995, and sent a proposal to Saudi Arabia through its Dhaka mission, to end fatalities or injuries during the ritual -- the last major rite of the hajj, said a press release.

The Saudi government then invited him to its country and implemented his plan. This Bangladeshi engineer's name and address was inscribed on the Mina structure to recognise his work. The Saudi government in a letter on June 5, 1999, also recognised the work. 

Ibrahim, who retired from Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) as its chief engineer in 1998, was born in Krishnagabindapur village under Chapainawabganj Sadar in 1941. Ibrahim graduated from Rajshahi Engineering College [now Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology] in 1968.

He was the author of several books including “How to Build a Nice Home”, “Engineering Drawing”, “Swalpa Mulley Griha Nirman”, and “Quranic Guild”.