An obituary for Moslehuddin Ahmed

It is occasionally a peculiar coincidence that a very close friend of mine leaves this mortal world while my wife and I are away from the country.
To my utter dismay, I read the news item in The Daily Star's internet edition that Moslehuddin Ahmed has passed away after suffering a stroke about two months back and that he was in a coma for about two weeks at Square hospital (Inna lillahe wa inna ilaihe rajeun). My wife and I felt extremely sad and offered our silent prayers.
Moslehuddin was only one year senior to me in the central superior service. We were from two branches of the civil service, but at the senior level we came to similar positions. He was the first managing director of Bandladesh Biman and in fact organised it from scratch. I did not keep track of all his subsequent postings, but I know that he had stints of ambassadorial resposibilites. When he returned from his duty as ambassador of Bangladesh to Romania, he was posted as secretary of the Ministry of Industries which I was heading at that time.
On arriving in Dhaka, Moslehuddin was naturally keen to join in the industries ministry as soon as possible. I told him that I was also very eager to move out to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but I was under presidential orders to complete an assignment, which he appreciated. I made over charge to him at the earliest possible time. Later, he was appointed chairman of Tariff Commission. On the whole he had a very chequered service career.
He was not to be deterred from giving service to the nation after retirement. When the Private University Act was enacted by the government, allowing setting up of private universities, he became a pioneer in this field. Assembling some like-minded friends like Nurul Hussain Khan and business leaders such as Mr. M.A. Kashem, he set up the first university in the private sector -- North South University -- and became its vice-chancellor. Thus he will be remembered as the promoter of higher education in the private sector. I take my hat off to him.
He was a kind and amiable gentleman of the first order. All his friends and well-wishers will miss him. My wife and I offer our deep condolences to bhabi and their children. We pray to Allah to grant him a place in the Jannatul firdaus and peace in his eternal abode. May Allah give bhabi and their children mental strength to bear this irreparable loss. Ameen, summa ameen.

The writer is former Governor of Bangladesh Bank & Former Principal Finance Secretary to the Government.
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