The gentleman goes by the name Rehman Sobhan. He has either reached the age of 80 or will be there soon. He worked on the two economy theory in the 60s, which eventually helped Bangladesh earn its independence from Pakistan through a bloody war. All his life, he has been a champion of public policy, a dedicated teacher, and a pro-people economist.
I met him the other day and found him to be as charged as any young man, ready to go for his second or third round of fixing this country, to clear the laundry list of activities which would take this country forward. I can’t claim to be too close to him though, but I respect him for being an honest person throughout his entire life. He is so articulate, so networked, that anyone of us can consider him a role model for being a “public policy activist.”
Professor Sobhan is not alone. I had the chance to work with three of his direct students: Professor Muhammad Yunus, Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, and Dr Mirza Azizul Islam. No matter who says what, the entire world knows Bangladesh as the birthplace of Nobel Laureate and founder of Grameen Bank Muhammad Yunus, possibly the most hardworking economist in the world at the age of 75.
His friend Mirza Aziz is possibly the best finance minister Bangladesh will remember, taking the country forward during its most troubled time. The gentleman still teaches for three hours in each session, sharing his wisdom with many newspaper readers and television audiences.
Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed will be remembered as the most organised central bank governor in Bangladesh, who tied all loose ends in the country’s financial watchdog agency. This gentleman is in exile now, and he is still the fastest person who will reply to any email sent to him or share his opinion on any economic activities impacting the world.
Pay a visit to Fazle Hasan Abed, the founder of Brac – the largest NGO in the world. You will find this young man of almost 80 still making plans of launching a new enterprise or a people-friendly initiative in education or poverty alleviation.
I know a gentleman by the name Dr Akbar Ali Khan, who is a Kali Narayan Scholar from Dhaka University’s history department. He joined the civil service, took part in Bangladesh’s Liberation War, and even taught at a public university. He’s worked for various divisions under our finance ministry. Unfortunately this young-at-heart man had to undergo spinal surgery in the United States, which has impacted his mobility.
This gentleman is only in his 70s, but is still the most productive person in Bangladesh in terms of writing, composing, teaching, and speaking his heart out on public policies in Bangladesh.
Moving on to the world of science in Bangladesh, you will come across names like Professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury, Professor Mohammad Kaykobad, Professor Ainun Nishat, and Professor Muhammad Zafar Iqbal – each one of them are very knowledgeable, committed, and dedicated in building “solutions” for this country.
When he was alive, I used to frequently meet the gentleman named Samson H Chowdhury, the symbol of Bangladesh’s entrepreneurship. He always had an open learning mind. Go and ask any revenue collector, they will tell you how Mr Chowdhury never shied away from paying what was due to the national exchequer. His friends, Latifur Rahman, Mahbubur Rahman, all in their late 60s or mid 70s, are supplementing his leadership traits.
Many faces appear to me: Dr Mohammed Farashuddin, the former UN senior and Bangladesh Bank governor; Matiur Rahman, the editor of the largest circulated daily and a trend-setter; Professor Nazrul Islam, the founder of the Centre for Urban Studies and a former UGC chairman, Mr Delwar Hossain, an Ekushey award winner and social activist from Tangail. All of them have either crossed the age of 70 or are close, yet they are so hard-working, and so committed to making sure our emerging nation succeeds.
I remember poets Syed Shamsul Haque, Nirmalendu Goon, artist Shahabuddin, Rafiqunnabi, and many of their peers who gained a lot of appreciation for their creativity, dedication, and commitment. They all are aging, but have an evergreen heart.
I would also like to tip my hat to our politicians: Matia Chowdhury, Nurul Islam Nahid, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, and professionals-turned-public representatives like AMA Muhith, Dr Osman Faruk, MK Anwar, and some others.
The late Justice Habibur Rahman, Justice Mustafa Kamal, journalist ABM Musa, and journalist Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury will be remembered for their commitment to logical thinking, perfection, beauty, and the public good.
All the individuals whose names I have mentioned here are crossing 70 or even 80, yet they are thinking big, working hard, and are trying to do their best to take this nation forward. While we salute them, it is also regretful that there are not many who can fill the void that they will leave when they are gone.
Our generation needs to do more to be able to replace them, and feel comfort in knowing that the future generations will be no less than their predecessors.
