Citizen's Platform for SDGs on Monday arranged a virtual memorial and discussion to pay tribute to three renowned educationists - National professors Dr Anisuzzaman and Dr Jamilur Reza Choudhury, and Sunbeams School Principal Niloufer Manzur.
The three personalities contributed their entire lives to the education sector and all of them passed away in the last month.
Presiding over the discussion, renowned economist Prof Rehman Sobhan said the three were extraordinary human beings who made crucial contributions to their fields.
“They enlightened the entire nation through their work and views,” said Prof Sobhan, also chairman of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).
“Niloufer was a person of exceptional modesty and decency, who started her school in her drawing-room and took her schooling system to an international level. It is tough to gain recognition at such a level. All our public schools need to follow her standards,” he added.
Regarding Dr Jamilur Reza Choudhury, Prof Sobhan said: “He was a person of great creativity whose name is associated with major infrastructures of the country, including Bangabandhu Bridge, Padma Bridge, and cyclone shelter ideas.
“He could have made himself a multimillionaire as he was involved in huge investment projects worth thousands of crores, but he fulfilled his responsibilities with honesty, honour and integrity,” the CPD chairman added, saying that people should remember that Dr Jamil stayed modest.
On Dr Anisuzzaman, Prof Sobhan said: “He was a universal teacher and friend. I never heard Anisuzzaman speak badly or harshly. His voice was low and he had a sense of humour as well as modesty.
“He was one of our great, authentic, internationally recognized scholars. His literary works expressed his modesty,” he added.
“Their lifestyles inspired so many people, not just their families but the nation beyond them as well. I think the gap in national resources created by three people like them all leaving us in such a short span of time is equivalent to the collapse of Bangabandhu Bridge,” Prof Sobhan said.
“If the infrastructure they built collapses, it will be near impossible to rebuild. What we can do is protect the work they did as human beings and use their standards of excellence as inspiration. Students and young people are worried that the good people are gone and worried about the future, but their legend still lives on,” he added.
Mohit Chowdhury, a renowned engineer who worked with Dr Jamilur, said the national professor was so brilliant he earned double promotions twice and completed his graduation from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) at the age of 20.
Wahiduddin Mahmud, former advisor to the caretaker government, said: “Dr Anisuzzaman was that person who brought many eyes from the darkest world to enlightenment.”
Shaheen Anam, executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation, said: “The situation of pandemic prevents us from going to pay our respects physically. Niloufer Apa’s legacy will live on as will her values and views, and memories of her kindness.”
Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya and other participants, including the families and relatives of the three, and civil society members, expressed profound sadness for their recent deaths.
National Professor Dr Jamilur Reza Choudhury passed away on April 28 at a Dhaka hospital. He was 77 years old.
National Professor Anisuzzaman was an eminent educationist and writer who also taught at the Bangla language and literature department of Dhaka University. He died at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka on May 14, at the age of 83. Samples from his body later tested positive for Covid-19.
Niloufer, founder and principal of Sunbeams School, died from Covid-19 while undergoing treatment at CMH on May 26, at the age of 74.
