Ex-diplomat Faruq Ahmed Chy passes away

Former foreign secretary and ambassador Faruq Ahmed Choudhury passed away at the city's Square Hospitals early Wednesday. He was 84.

Faruq Ahmed breathed his last around 4:30am, one of his colleagues told UNB.

His first namaz-e-janaza will be held at the Foreign Ministry at 1:00pm today, while the second one at Baitul Aman Mosque at Dhanmondi-7 after Asr prayers.

He is survived by wife, one daughter, one son and a host of relatives and admirers.

Born in 1934, Faruq Ahmed entered the Pakistan Foreign Service in 1956 and subsequently held various positions at the Pakistan Foreign Office and missions abroad.

After the emergence of Bangladesh, he was appointed the first Chief of Protocol of Bangladesh in 1972.

He served as Bangladesh's deputy high commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1972 to 1976. During this period, he was involved with the final phase of negotiations leading to Bangladesh's entry into the Commonwealth.

From 1976 to 1978, Faruq Ahmed was the Ambassador to the UAE and Bahrain. He was also the Ambassador to EEC and Benelux countries from 1978 to 1982.

In 1982, he became the chief coordinator of the 13th OIC Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Dhaka in 1983. He was the Additional Foreign Secretary at the ministry from 1983 to 1984.

Faruq Ahmed became the foreign secretary in 1984 and held the position till 1986. He then served as Bangladesh High Commissioner to India from 1986 to 1992.

After retirement in 1992, Choudhury associated himself with social works, and authored a number of books.

He also served at Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC), one of the world's largest NGOs, in different capacities.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith has expressed deep shock at the passing away of Faruq Ahmed and extended his condolences to the bereaved family.