Arefin Siddique passes away

Prof Abu Ahsan Mohammad Shamsul Arefin Siddique, widely known as AAMS Arefin Siddique, passed away at a city hospital yesterday.

He was 72.

Prof Siddique, who served as the Dhaka University vice-chancellor for two consecutive terms, breathed his last at 10:45pm at the Neuro Intensive Care Unit of Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital, said his son-in-law Nafiz Imtiaz.

On March 6, he suddenly collapsed at Dhaka Club and was hospitalised. After initial treatment, he was moved to the ICU and placed on life support.

Despite doctors' best efforts, his condition remained critically unstable, with no brainstem reflex detected and his pupils unresponsive.

He left behind his wife, daughter, and a host of friends, colleagues, and well-wishers to mourn his death.

He will be buried at Azimpur graveyard after his namaz-e-janaza at Dhanmondi Eidgah Mosque after Jum'a prayers.

Born in Dhaka on October 26, 1953, he had an illustrious career marked by contributions to academia, public service, and media.

Prof Siddique, who was the 27th DU VC from 2009 to 2017, completed his early education at Dhaka College, graduating in science in 1973.

His academic journey continued at DU, where he earned his master's in mass communications and journalism, graduating at the top of his class.

In 1985, he earned a PhD in televised teaching from the University of Mysore in India, supported by an Indian government scholarship.

He further honed his skills through various training programmes at prestigious institutions such as the University of Manila, the University of Minnesota, and Cornell University.

In 1980, Prof Siddique began his teaching career at DU, where he devoted nearly four decades to educating and inspiring countless students.

He was elected Dhaka University Teachers Association (DUTA) president twice. He also served twice as the general secretary of DUTA.

Beyond his work at Dhaka University, he contributed to the higher education sector at the national level.

During his tenure as VC, the DU campus remained largely peaceful, with few instances of unrest or closures due to clashes between student bodies. Additionally, session jam eased.

He was appointed chairman of the Board of Directors of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) in 2020.

He was also at the helm of the board of trustees at the Bangladesh National Museum, where he worked to preserve and promote the country's rich cultural heritage.

Prof Siddique was a member of the advisory board for the Bangladesh Journalists' Welfare Trust.

He also served as the president of Bangabandhu Parishad from 2016 to 2023.

As the news of his demise spread, there was an outpouring of grief among his students and colleagues. Many took to social media to share their fond memories about Arefin Siddique.

Talking to The Daily Star, Mir Masrur Zaman, general secretary of DU Mass Communications and Journalism (MCJ) Alumni Association, said, "One of his lasting legacies would be how he was so loved by his students irrespective of political stripes. He always stood by his students in times of need."

Azad Majumder, deputy press secretary to the chief adviser, wrote on Facebook, "Arefin Siddique sir was my direct teacher for four years. I got the opportunity to watch him closely in tutorial classes for two of those four years. Even though I disagree with his political views, I have always found his teaching methods fascinating and am forever grateful to him for what he taught me and my countless MCJ fellows. May Allah grant him Jannat."