Professor Abu Abdullah Ziauddin Ahmad always bore a positive attitude towards life, greatly contributing and inspiring the BRAC ONNESHA nanosatellite project, said BRAC University (BRACU) Vice Chancellor Professor Syed Saad Andaleeb PhD.
He was addressing a memorial meeting BRACU organised at its auditorium on 25 January 2018 on Professor Ziauddin, the founding chairperson of the Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (MNS).
Recently retiring over health concerns, the renowned physicist and former chairman of the Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization passed away on January 18 in a Dhaka hospital at the age of 79.
He left behind his wife, a daughter and a son.
Praying for salvation of the departed soul, BRACU Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr Ansar Ahmed PhD recalled that Professor Ziauddin used to always address him by his first name, something elderly Bangladeshis do out of affection.
The human resources department will always keep Professor Ziauddin’s files open in his honour, declared Treasurer and Acting Registrar Shib Narayan Kairy.
Former Bangladesh Bank governor Professor Salehuddin Ahmed of BRAC Business School said Professor Ziauddin was the husband of his classmate at the University of Dhaka and “a fine gentleman”.
He was also a good administrator and professional, said the MNS department Chairperson Professor AFM Yusuf Haider PhD.
A teacher who inspired all, Professor Ziauddin was the initiator of a unique course on ethics and culture at the Residential Semester, said Department of English and Humanities Chairperson Professor Firdous Azim.
Professor Ziauddin’s daughter Shenin Ziauddin, a former senior lecturer at BRACU, thanked all for celebrating her father and his life.
Associate Professor Md Khalilur Rahman of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), Professor M Mahboob Hossain of the MNS department, School of Law Dean Professor K Shamsuddin Mahmood, Lecturer Md Shamsul Kaonain of the CSE department; Lecturer Afsana Tasnim Oshin of biotechnology at the MNS department also shared their thoughts.
Assistant professors Sharmina Hussain and Iftekhar Md Shafiqul Kalam of the MNS department hosted the programme, for the first time in Bangla, where the former read out Professor Ziauddin’s biography and a short video was played as tribute.
A one-minute’s silence was observed paying respects to Professor Ziauddin.