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Jamilur Reza Choudhury

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Bangladeshi civil engineer (1942–2020)
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Jamilur Reza Choudhury
জামিলুর রেজা চৌধুরী
Choudhury in 2018
Vice-Chancellor of University of Asia Pacific
In office
2 May 2012 – 28 April 2020
Preceded byAbdul Matin Patwari
Succeeded byMd. Sultan Mahmud
Vice-Chancellor of BRAC University
In office
2001–2010
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byAinun Nishat
Personal details
Born(1943-11-15)15 November 1943
Sylhet, Assam Province, British India
Died28 April 2020(2020-04-28) (aged 76)
Dhaka, Bangladesh
NationalityBangladeshi
Alma mater
Known forAcademics, research, civil engineering, former adviser to Caretaker Government of Bangladesh

Dr. Jamilur Reza Choudhury (15 November 1942 – 28 April 2020) was a Bangladeshi civil engineer, professor, researcher, and education advocate. He was an Adviser (Minister) to Caretaker Government of Bangladesh (April–June 1996). He was the first vice chancellor of BRAC University and former vice chancellor of University of Asia Pacific. He was also the president of Bangladesh Mathematical Olympiad Committee from 2003. He was awarded Ekushey Padak by the Government of Bangladesh in the category of science and technology in 2017. He was inducted as a National Professor by the Government of Bangladesh in 2018.

Early life and background

Choudhury was born in Sylhet (during British colonial rule) on 15 November 1943. His father, Abid Reza Choudhury (1905–1991), was a civil engineer who had migrated to Dhaka in 1952 (after the Partition of India) from Rangauty, a rural area of Hailakandi (Assam, India). Abid was the first Muslim to graduate from Bengal Engineering and Science University, in 1929. His mother, Hayatun Nessa Choudhury (née Laskor) (1922–2010) was a homemaker, from the Nitainagar area of Hailakandi. Jamilur is the middle child of five siblings.

Education

Choudhury began school in 1950 (age 6) at the Mymensingh Zilla School. After his family moved to Dhaka from Mymensingh in 1952, he transferred to Nawabpur Government High School, and transferred once more to a private Catholic school, St Gregory's High School, in 1953. He passed entrance examination from Sylhet Government Pilot High School. He attended Dhaka College from 1957 to 1959 and earned his Bachelor of Science Degree (Civil Engineering) from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in 1963. Upon graduation from BUET (First Class First with Honours), he became a lecturer in the Civil Engineering Department that same year. He earned a Masters of Science in Engineering Degree (advanced structural engineering) in 1965 and a Ph.D. in structural engineering in 1968, both at University of Southampton.

Choudhury was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Engineering (Honoris Causa) by Manchester University on 20 October 2010 – the first person of Bangladeshi origin to receive this honor from a British University.

Work

Immediately after publication of results of BSC Engineering, he joined as a faculty member of the former East Pakistan University of Engineering and Technology (EPUET) pending formal appointment. In November 1963, he formally joined as a lecturer the Department of Civil Engineering and began his long teaching career. In September 1964 he was awarded a scholarship by Burmashell to pursue MS in structural engineering. His thesis was on "Cracks in Concrete Beam using Computer-Aided Design". In 1968, he was conferred a Ph.D. degree on the topic of "Shear Wall & Structural Analysis of High rise Building". After completing Ph.D. he returned to former East Pakistan in 1968 and joined the former East Pakistan University of Engineering & Technology as an assistant professor until the demise of East Pakistan and the birth of a new nation, Bangladesh. In 1973 he was promoted to associate professor of Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology (BUET) and in 1976 a full professor. In 1975, he was offered a Nuffield scholarship to pursue a post-doctoral Fellowship at Surrey University in the UK. Until 2001 he was working as a professor at BUET. He was also entrusted with developing a "Computer Center" at BUET and was appointed the director for about 10 years. He served as vice-chancellor of BRAC University between 2001 and 2010. Choudhury was appointed the chairman of the task force for developing Software Export & IT Infrastructure in Bangladesh from 1997 to 2000 under the Ministry of Commerce. He was a ranking member of the Prime Minister's Task Force on developing Digital Bangladesh. Besides he was involved with several local and international organizations. He was working as the vice-chancellor of the University of Asia Pacific (UAP). He was the Technical Adviser of Padma Bridge.

Awards

  • Ekushey Padak (2017)
  • Sheltech Award (2010)
  • Bangladesh Engineering Institution Gold medal (1998)
  • Dr. Rashid Gold medal, (1997)
  • Rotary Seed Award, (2000)
  • Lions International (District-315) Gold Medal
  • Received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Manchester. He is the only Bangladeshi, who received a doctorate degree in engineering from a British university.
  • Jica Recognition Award
  • Star Lifetime Award (2016)
  • ribbon bar Order of the Rising Sun, 3rd Class, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon (2018)

Death

Choudhury died on 28 April 2020 following a heart attack in his home in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

References

  1. "Create professionals in disaster management". The Daily Star. 15 August 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  2. "Professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury, PhD was the first Vice Chancellor of BRAC University". BRAC University Website. 19 April 2015.
  3. ^ "Profile of Prof. Dr. Jamilur Reza Choudhury". University of Asia Pacific. Archived from the original on 30 March 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  4. "17 named for Ekushey Padak 2017". The Daily Star. 12 February 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  5. "3 educationists become national professors". The Daily Star. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  6. "Directors of IICT, BUET".
  7. BRAC University Move Archived 10 September 2012 at archive.today The Daily Samakal
  8. এশিয়া প্যাসিফিকের উপাচার্যের দায়িত্বে জামিলুর রেজা চৌধুরী. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  9. শেলেটক্ পদক পেলেন জামিলুর রেজা চৌধুরী ও আতিউর রহমান. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  10. জামিলুর রেজা চৌধুরী সম্মানসূচক ডক্টরেট ডিগ্রি পেলেন. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  11. "Prof Jamilur Reza gets Jica award". The Daily Star. 11 December 2013.
  12. "Prof. Jamilur Reza Choudhury". The Daily Star. 5 February 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  13. "National Professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury no more". Dhaka Tribune. 28 April 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
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