People from all walks of life pay tribute to Akbar Ali Khan
News Desk : dhakamirror.com
Former adviser to a caretaker governmentAkbar Ali Khan devoted his life to the welfare of the people and his death is an irreparable loss to the nation, said his colleagues, civil society members and noted politicians before bidding farewell to the economist and writer.
Amid love and grief, colleagues, relatives and eminent citizens yesterday paid tribute to Akbar as he was laid to rest at Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals’ Graveyard around 3:30pm after his namaz-e-janaza in the capital’s Gulshan.
Before his burial, he was given a state honour by the Dhaka district administration.
After the namaz-e-janaza, his family announced that the Qulkhani would be held at Azad mosque after Asr prayers on Monday.
Condolences poured in from a cross-section of people, including former bureaucrats, and different rights organisations.
In a Facebook post, renowned economist Wahiduddin Mahmud said Akbar’s active presence greatly enriched the civil society of Bangladesh. He was a skilled government official, a man of integrity, a researcher, an impartial political observer, a good writer, a teacher and a social thinker.
After attending his namaz-e-janaza, Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury said, “In this critical time, it is hard to find people like him who can speak the truth. The nation now needed him very much. But losing him at this moment is an irreparable loss.”
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said Akbar was always connected with people, though he was a bureaucrat.
Earlier in the day, Akbar’s colleagues and eminent citizens visited his Gulshan residence.
“He used to think independently, always spoke the truth and thought about the welfare of the people and the country. He lived a successful life,” said Matiur Rahman, the daily Prothom Alo editor and publisher.
In a statement, TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said, “Dr Akbar Ali Khan’s death is an irreparable loss to the country. TIB gratefully acknowledges his active and courageous participation, thoughtful and wise guidance in anti-corruption movement and establishing good governance in the country. He will be a source of inspiration to us as an honest and patriotic man.”
In a statement, Shujan, a civil society platform, said, “The country has lost a patriotic and meritorious person who dedicated his life to the welfare of the people.”
Bangladesh Economic Association expressed deep shock at the death of Akbar and said his writings and creative activities will remain with them forever as a symbol of “social commitment”.
In a statement, it also said the association’s relations with him will always be a source of strength and motivation for the people’s wellbeing.
Akbar breathed his last on Thursday night. He was 78.
Born in 1944 in Brahmanbaria, he graduated in history from Dhaka University and later emerged as an economist. He completed his post doctorate in economics from Queen’s University in Canada.
He started his professional career in the civil service of Pakistan in 1967. He actively participated in the Liberation War in 1971 and was sentenced to 14 years rigorous imprisonment in absentia by a Pakistan military court for this, according to the brief bio in one of his books.
Akbar was the finance secretary and chairman of the National Board of Revenue. He was appointed as cabinet secretary in 2001.
He also held the position of alternate executive director in the World Bank.
Akbar became an adviser to the 2006-07 caretaker government and later resigned in protest of the chief adviser’s failure in ensuring a free, fair and impartial election.
– Input from The Daily Star was used in this article
