Professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury: An example of brilliance and compassion

Professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury, popularly known as JRC to his friends and among known circles, passed away peacefully on April 27, 2020 around 3:00 am. He was an exemplary educationist, engineer, technologist, social innovator and champion of quality education, as well as the vice chancellor of two famous private universities of Bangladesh, namely, Brac University (2001-2010) and University of Asia Pacific (2012-till his death) after his retirement from Buet in the year 2001. 

In 1963, he graduated from Civil Engineering Department with first class first with honours and became a full professor in 1976. Before that he completed his Masters and later Ph.D. from the University of Southampton, UK in structural engineering in 1968 on the topic of "Shear Wall & Structural Analysis of High Rise Building". Those were the initial days of huge IBM computers. Impressed with the computing abilities, fastness and imperativeness of computers as the necessary tool of the future for all scientific and technological fields he successfully introduced computer education in Bangladesh for the first time in his alma mater Buet. In that sense he is the trainer of all trainees who are now senior computer engineers and educators.

Widely known as a polite and cool-headed person he was an ideal teacher, persuasive enough for innovative application of modern method and tools of education. He was equally acceptable and dear to all circles of policymakers including political ones, an endearing and colossal feat for any developing society and certainly that of Bangladesh. He could move easily and effortlessly through all barriers of classes, rich and poor, scholars and non-scholars, leaders and social workers, pundits and novices on any subject simple and complex for the welfare and greater good of the nation and its people. His objective was to find ways to lessen income disparity and create equal opportunities particularly in the education sector. He firmly believed that a democratic body politic was best suited to achieve all these essential objectives of a rising independent nation. A deeply cultured man with sizeable knowledge of Bengali literature and history, he submerged himself with missionary zeal in all important socio-economic issues of the nation and particularly global environmental priorities.

But it was a Herculean task given the ground realities of politics, economics, social and environmental issues nationally and internationally. So, he chose to prioritised his goals and the weight of his intellect, goodwill and expertise.

He became an adviser to the first caretaker government in 1991 for only three months solely to conduct a free and fair election paving the way to the formation of a credible representative government.

Among his side efforts were mentorship of other fellow engineers who would remain socially cohesive and ready for achieving desired national objectives if the opportunity presented itself. Having had the good luck of being his university class friend I observed how he brought his classmates together under the social umbrella of "Buet Alumni of 1963 Batch". He laid down the solid foundation for cohesion and unity of purpose for meeting probable future challenges while remaining free to gather various types of experiences in the emerging and developed economies of middle eastern and developed countries. He was relentless and tireless where leadership was required. He was also the president for many years of an even bigger entity called ABUET, the Association of all Buet engineers through forging unity among two competing similar associations since 2006 thus bringing a divisive entity into one single force for national and professional purposes.

On a personal level, his singular ability to recall names of any member of the associations and give details of his/her career including family connections was a marvel to ponder. Many a times when we were unsure of persons and his background particularly with similar names, he could clarify the confusion instantly by drawing from his photogenic memory. 

He was proud of Buet and other Bangladeshi engineers who distinguished themselves by their innovative and powerful contribution to their host societies. All this information was at his fingertips which enabled to increase the goodwill for Bangladeshi engineers and scientists.

Jamil's publication of some 56 articles published in national and international technological magazines of reputation was highly acclaimed in the concerned circles. 

Any mega infrastructure project in Bangladesh was unthinkable without JRC's direct and masterly participation and direction. Future generations will no doubt benefit as they will enjoy smooth, hassle-free, speedy travel without waiting for a series of ferry rides, thanks to the availability of bridges over the mighty rivers Jamuna and Padma. Or look at how these mighty and ferocious rivers were tamed to lead smoothly towards the stabilised bridge columns and spans and to the country's important burgeoning tall buildings founded on the highly unstable clayish foundations designed to meet at least 7.5 degree of Richter Scale of earthquake in the country's quake prone areas inhabited by millions. This is a kind of challenge hardly faced by any other country of this level of economic development and resource base. Bangladeshis will remember in awe the name of a fearless pioneer and structural engineer by the nickname of JRC for leading these successful changes on the soft and shifting deltaic soil of Bangladesh.

Alas, when his potential had yet to reach the peak for the sake of national interest and glory, Jamil left this beautiful Earth and his adoring friends and peoples forever while apparently enjoying good health, undiminished intellectual prowess and vigorous energy to participate and make impact on all useful societal activities of national, regional and international nature.

While we were deprived of bidding him farewell because of the current crisis, we will all remember him as an excellent friend, noble personage, an avid patriot and a warm, compassionate human being worthy of emulation.

Dr M Afsarul Qader, former ambassador and secretary.