Rich tributes to Dr. Wazed Miah at civic condolence meeting
Speakers at a civic condolence meeting here yesterday paid rich tributes to Dr MA Wazed Miah, saying that this highly acclaimed nuclear scientist was a man of `head and heart’. “A man of high stature, Dr Wazed Miah left invaluable contributions not only in his professional career as a reputed atomic scientist, but in many other fields of our national life,” they observed. They said Dr Wazed was not a politician, but he was not devoid of political thoughts. He used to give enlightened leadership from behind the scenes, they added.The civic condolence meeting was organized by Bangladesh Awami League as the concluding part of its three-day programme to mourn the death of Dr Wazed Miah, husband of AL Chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Dr Wazed Miah died on Saturday at a city hospital after a prolonged illness. He had been suffering from various complications, including diabetes, and respiratory and kidney problems. Held at the Bangladesh-China Conference Centre, the condolence meeting was presided over by AL Presidium Member and Deputy Leader in Parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury. AL Presidium Members Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Abdur Razzak, Suranjit Sengupta and Mohammad Nasim, AL Secretary General Abdul Jalil, AL spokesman and LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, Samyabadi Dal General Secretary and Industries Minister Dilip Barua, Jatiya Party General Secretary Sheikh Shahidul Islam, and Dr Wazed’s teacher and Sampradaik Samprity Parishad (communal harmony council) President Dr Ajoy Roy, among others, addressed the meeting. AL leader Ashim Kumar Ukil conducted the programme. At the outset of the condolence meeting, noted cultural personality Asaduzzaman Noor, MP, recited from Tagore’s poem— `tumiki keboli chhabi’ The speakers said Dr Wazed Miah was an eminent nuclear scientist, researcher and writer, but all these were overshadowed by his quality as a good man.
Teacher of the physics department of Dhaka University and President of Communal Harmony Prof Ajoy Roy said Wazed was one of the brilliant students of the department. “Wazed was a good organizer who gave leadership from behind in the historic ’62 Education Movement’,” said Prof Ajoy, direct teacher of Wazed Miah. Dilip Barua, who was a direct student of Dr Wazed Mia, said, “This nuclear scientist used to teach us quantum physics which is a very difficult and complicated subject. But `Wazed Sir’ used to teach us in such a simple method that we could easily assimilate the issues.” Barua, who is also a minister in charge of industries, told the audience that in the next cabinet meeting he would raise a proposal to build a `Bigyan Bhaban’ for promotion of science and technology in the country. “I shall also propose to name it as `Dr Wazed Bigyan Bhaban’,” he added.
Sheikh Shahidul Islam said after brutal assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Dr Wazed Mia guided Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana like a guardian. “In fact, they were under his warm shadow of affection,” he added. “He gave them inspiration and guidance and helped them reach this level of national life,” he said. Shahidul Islam said Dr Wazed Mia was a `perfect gentleman’ who had no enemies throughout his life. Teacher of the physics department of Dhaka University and President of Communal Harmony Prof Ajoy Roy said Wazed was one of the brilliant students of the department. “Wazed was a good organizer who gave leadership from behind in the historic ’62 Education Movement’,” said Prof Ajoy, direct teacher of Wazed Mia. Dilip Barua, who was a direct student of Dr Wazed Mia, said, “This nuclear scientist used to teach us quantum physics which is a very difficult and complicated subject. But `Wazed Sir’ used to teach us in such a simple method that we could easily assimilate the issues.” Barua, who is also a minister in charge of industries, told the audience that in the next cabinet meeting he would raise a proposal to build a `Bigyan Bhaban’ for promotion of science and technology in the country. “I shall also propose to name it as `Dr Wazed Bigyan Bhaban’,” he added. Sheikh Shahidul Islam said after brutal assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Dr Wazed Mia guided Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana like a guardian. “In fact, they were under his warm shadow of affection,” he added. “He gave them inspiration and guidance and helped them reach this level of national life,” he said. Shahidul Islam said Dr Wazed Mia was a `perfect gentleman’ who had no enemies throughout his life.
Mohammad Nasim termed Wazed Miah as unassuming and devoted and a man without greed. “He (Wazed Miah) gave us courage during all movements,” he said. Rashed Khan Menon said Wazed Mian was uncompromising in building a non-communal prosperous Bangladesh and on the question of the Liberation War. “He did not exercise his power although he was very close to power,” Menon said. Matia Chowdhury said women of the country were in need of a shelter when they stepped into politics and Wazed Mia was that shelter of Sheikh Hasina. “Though Wazed Mia was not a politician, his contribution to politics was unforgettable,” she said. Describing the death of Wazed Mia as an irreparable loss to the country,
Suranjit Sengupta said his devotion to the nation will be ever remembered. “Wazed Mia was not a barrier to the way of doing politics by Sheikh Hasina, rather he worked as a complementary factor to her doing politics,” he said. Abdul Jalil said Wazed Mia had proved his political prudence throughout his life and established himself through the pursuit of knowledge. He called upon all to put him in a respectable position by following his ideals and works.
Tofail Ahmed said Wazed Mia was not only a nuclear scientist; he was also a man of political sagacity. “Wazed Mia used to speak in a straight-forward manner whatever he believed and would always think about the country and its people,” he said. “He was very close to power but it could not touch him,” he said, demanding establishment of `Bigyan Bhaban’ after the name of the eminent nuclear scientist. Abdur Razzak said Wazed Mia was a politically conscious man and his contribution to the nuclear science is enormous.
Amir Hossain Amu said man like Wazed Mia is needed now to build `Digital Bangladesh’ by 2021, a vision of the present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Sajeda Chowdhury said the whole country is shocked at the death of Wazed Mia and the presence of thousands of people in his janaza had proved the amount of love and respect they had for the leading nuclear scientist of the country. Born on February 16 in 1942, in a respectable Muslim family of Fatepur village under Pirganj upazila of Rangpur district, Dr Wajed was the youngest among four sons and three daughters of Abdul Quader Mia.
He studied up to class four at the primary school at his village and then up to class six at a high school under the Pirganj thana.
He obtained his matriculation with distinction from Rangpur Government District School in Rangpur district in 1956 in first division and was admitted to Rajshahi Science College from where he passed the Higher Secondary Certificate examination securing second position in merit list.
Wajed Mia was admitted to Physics Department of Dhaka University in 1958 and obtained first class first in B. Sc (hons) in 1961 and first class first in M.Sc in 1962 from same university.
He joined the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission on April 9 in 1963. He obtained his ‘Diploma from Imperial College of London in 1963- 64.Dr M A Wazed Miah returned home in September 1967 after obtaining his PhD degree in Physics from Durham University of the United Kingdom and joined as scientific officer at Atomic Energy Research Centre in Dhaka. Later, he was engaged in post-doctoral research from November 1969 to 1970 in London.
Dr M A Wazed Miah tied his nuptial cord with Sheikh Hasina, daughter of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, on November 17 in 1967. They have a son and a daughter – Sajib Wajed Joy and Saima Wajed Putul.
In 1969 he got the associate-ship of Italy-based International Theoretical Physics Research Centre of Nobel Laureate Professor Dr Salam where he was engaged in a research project under the world- renowned scientist. In the same year he returned home and remained engaged with Atomic Energy research Centre. In 1975 he was in the then West Germany to undergo higher training on atomic reactor science while his wife Sheikh Hasina was with her at that time and thus evaded the August 15, 1975 carnage. He was engaged in research works at the New Delhi-based laboratory of Indian Atomic Energy Commission from 1975 to 1982, the period he actually was forced to leave an exiled life after the killing of Bangabandhu along with most of his family members. On return home, he rejoined the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and retired as its chairman in 1999.
A nuclear scientist of international repute, Dr MA Wajed Mia, who breathed his last at a city hospital yesterday, is known more for his professional excellence in scientific arena but close friends and contemporaries were familiar to his role also as a student leader during the climax of Bengali nationalist movement in 1960s. His quality earned the position of the vice president of Fazlul Haque Muslim Hall while he was always under the affectionate shadow of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He even was arrested and served in jail for his leading role in the then 1962 students movement against Education Commission recommendations shrinking facilities for higher education. But his academic excellence and knack for academic pursuit made him a nuclear scientist eventually installing to the top position of the country’s Atomic Energy Commission after long career as a researcher and fellow at different scientific institutes and organizations in different countries including Germany and India. He all through tried to maintain a low profile while in personal life, led a very simple life and was an amiable person but never compromised with anything unjust.
Apart from his publications on scientific research and nuclear science, Wajed Mia also authored a number of books on social and political issues including one on the memories of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The books included Fundamentals of Electromagnetics, Fundamentals of Thermodynamics and ‘Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib-ke Ghire Kichhu Ghatana o Bangladesh.
Dr. M. A. Wazed Sudha Miah
Born February 16, 1942
Fatehpur, Pirganj, Rangpur
Died May 9, 2009 (aged 67)
Dhaka
Occupation Nuclear Scientist
Spouse(s) Sheikh Hasina Wazed
Children Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Saima Wazed Putul
Parents Father-Abdul Quader Miah and Mother- Moyzunnessa
No comments:
Post a Comment