Buet VC Khaleda Ekram passes away

Professor Khaleda Ekram, the first woman vice chancellor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), died at a hospital in Bangkok early today at the age of 66.

She was suffering from cancer (non-Hodgkin’sLymphoma) and breathed her last at Bangkok General Hospital, said a press release issued by Bangladesh embassy today.

Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had granted Tk 20 lakh from her special fund to support the treatment of the ailing VC whose condition was fast deteriorating over the past week in Bangkok.

Professor Khaleda was flown into Bangkok from Dhaka in a critical condition by emergency air ambulance in the early hours of May 14 to be received personally by Bangladesh Ambassador in Thailand Saida Muna Tasneem, a former Buet student. 

The Bangladesh embassy has been providing all out assistance during the hospital stay of the deceased VC in close coordination with her family members and Professor Khaleda’s Buet colleagues and alumni in Dhaka, who had raised a substantial treatment fund for their beloved VC.

The Bangladesh embassy in Bangkok is currently doing all that is required to complete the hospital release formalities and final Muslim rituals of the deceased VC and send her last remains to Dhaka by Bangladesh Biman flight tomorrow.