Fare thee well-- people's ambassador!

Ruhul Amin, the young and bright Bangladesh Ambassador to France, is no more (Innalillahe wa inna Ilaihe rajeun/peace be upon him!) He died, while in the service of his country, of a massive stroke in a Paris hospital. Amin joined the embassy in Paris in July, 2007 relinquishing his assignment as Ambassador to Bahrain, the first career diplomat in many years to Manama. It was in Bahrain that Ambassador Amin earned the fond title of the "People's Ambassador".
Immediately upon assuming charge in Paris, Ruhul fell in the middle of the 'situation' resulting out of a cultural exchange agreement signed between the governments of Bangladesh and France under which some rare artifacts of Bangladesh were to be exhibited at the Guimet museum of Paris. Some cultural activists abused him publicly and one eminent lawyer also spoke in terms of legal actions, all because of his devotion to duty. As a government official he was merely carrying out the responsibilities bestowed on him. According to family sources, he had not been feeling very well lately and he was loosing weight. On the morning of Wednesday, as he was preparing to leave for office he confided in his wife that he was feeling sick to which she suggested to him to skip office but he disagreed. When she insisted, he told her that he had an important meeting at the French foreign ministry, a meeting that fate turned into his last assignment for his government and country.
As he was returning to the embassy with another colleague, Amin collapsed in the car at the Bangladesh embassy drive way. It was a massive stroke and the doctors declared him 'clinically dead' although they put him on life support system. After conducting series of tests doctors pronounced him dead a 9 am Paris time on Thursday. Ambassador Ruhul Amin was a people's man, and according to his expressed wish his vital organs would be preserved for transplantation to those who would need them. Thus, God willing, five lives would be saved. He continues to serve humanity even through his death.
A brilliant and able person, Ambassador Amin studied English literature at Jahangir Nagar University and joined the Bangladesh Foreign Service in 1984. He secured his first assignment in France, did his post graduate studies at the Sorbonne University. From Paris he moved to Brussels from where he was transferred to the UN headquarters in New York as the deputy to the permanent representative (PR) of Bangladesh to the UN. Ambassador Iftekhar A Chowdhury, current foreign affairs adviser, was then the PR. Adviser Chowdhury expressed deep shock at the death of Ruhul Amin, saying he was a brilliant and efficient officer.
Ruhul moved to Dhaka to become director general of the SAARC desk. It fell on him to coordinate the Dhaka SAARC summit held in 2005. Media watchers would remember the efficiency he displayed coordinating that event. Then he got his dream assignment, his first as Ambassador, to Bahrain. Before him, Bahrain was the destination for political appointees. Bangladeshi foreign exchange earners in Bahrain were unwelcome at the embassy. There was a small side gate at the back of the embassy for them as if it would be a shame if people saw these NRBs entering their country's mission through the main gate. Ruhul not only opened up the main gate for them, they could come and see any one at the embassy any time and without prior appointment. Manama newspapers published these welcome changes and called him the people's ambassador.
Amin was a brilliant officer, thoroughly honest, truly dedicated to his work, and put his country's interest on top of every thing else. How many examples do we have before us of anyone who, at the peril of his own life, would put his country first? I do not know of a superior under whom Ruhul worked not liking him. Now that he is no longer with us, I hope they will not forget his contributions and come out to help his widow and only child.
I knew Ruhul from his first assignment in Paris. At that time I was frequently traveling to Paris as the Bangladesh head of Rhone-Poulenc. Mr. Shahabuddin was the ambassador. At my request and at the recommendation of Ruhul, the ambassador kindly agreed that visitors from Rhone-Poulenc to Bangladesh would not require coming personally for Bangladesh visa. This small step made a huge difference and subsequently Rhone-Poulenc agreed to invest US$7.5 million to upgrade the production plant in Tongi. Wherever Ruhul was posted, I visited him except in Manama and he was very unhappy about it.
Whoever needed help, Ruhul was there. The younger brother of a Bahrain minister was to visit Dhaka, he referred me and I facilitated the visit. The visit subsequently paved the way for a Manama delegation to visit Bangladesh. The father of a British lady fought the Second World War in the eastern theatre. Many of his fellow fighters were buried at the Mainamati war cemetery. Now an elderly person, he wanted to visit the cemetery and approached Ruhul for help. My wife and I were happy to host the gentleman and his daughter at our house again at the request of Amin, and facilitated his visit. So many such memories come to mind that my eyes are getting misty.
Ambassador Ruhul Amin was a good person and is survived by his wife, and a daughter who is a student at a Paris school. He had not left much but memory for them. How will they pull on, what will happen to the education of this brilliant teenager daughter of his?
I pray to God that Ruhul be given the reward he deserves and appeal to the government to recognise his services and take care of his survivors.
A K M Shamsuddin retired as CEO and country head of Rhone-Poulenc (now Sanoffi-Aventis).