Iajuddin Ahmed

Iajuddin Ahmed
ইয়াজউদ্দিন আহম্মেদ
President Iajuddin Ahmed in 2002
13th President of Bangladesh
In office 6 September 2002 – 12 February 2009
Prime Minister	Khaleda Zia Himself (chief adviser ) Fazlul Haque (chief adviser) Fakhruddin Ahmed (chief adviser) Sheikh Hasina
Preceded by	Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar (Acting)
Succeeded by	Zillur Rahman
In office 29 October 2006 – 11 January 2007
President	Himself
Preceded by	Khaleda Zia (as Prime Minister)
Succeeded by	Fazlul Haque
6th Chairman of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission
In office 14 September 1991 – 31 January 1993
Appointed by	Shahabuddin Ahmed
President	Shahabuddin Ahmed Abdur Rahman Biswas
Preceded by	S. M. Al Hussaini
Succeeded by	S. M. A. Foyaz
Personal details
Born	(1931-02-01)1 February 1931 Bikrampur, Bengal, British India
Died	10 December 2012(2012-12-10) (aged 81) Bangkok, Thailand
Resting place	Banani Graveyard
Political party	Independent
Spouse	Anwara Begum
Children	Sujan Ahmad, Adam Ahmad and Imtiaz Ahmed (Babu) (adopted)
Alma mater	University of Dhaka University of Wisconsin–Madison

Iajuddin Ahmed (1 February 1931 – 10 December 2012) was the President of Bangladesh, serving from 6 September 2002 until 12 February 2009.

With a doctorate in soil science, Ahmed became a full professor at the University of Dhaka and chairman of the department. Beginning in 1991, he started accepting appointments to public positions, as chairman of the Public Service Commission (1991 to 1993) and of the University Grants Commission (1995 to 1999). In 2002, he won election as president. In 2004, he helped establish the private university, Atish Dipankar University of Science and Technology (ADUST).

Early life and education

Ahmed obtained his BSc and MS at the University of Dhaka in 1952 and 1954, respectively. He later received his MS and PhD degrees in 1958 and 1962, respectively, from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the United States.

Teaching

Returning to the University of Dhaka, Ahmed joined the faculty as an assistant professor in the Department of Soil Science. He moved up in the ranks until he became a full professor in the department. He held the posts at the university of chairman of the Soil Science Department of Dhaka University and dean of the Faculty of Biological Science, Dhaka University. He was also provost of Salimullah Muslim Hall.

Ahmed is credited with developing a process that preserved nutrients in soil and later released them according to the needs of the vegetation. In 1984, Professor Ahmed was a visiting professor at Cornell University in the United States and the German Technical University and University of Göttingen in Germany.

Political career

Ahmed was an adviser in the caretaker government in 1991. He was also chairman of the Public Service Commission from 1991 to 1993. He served as chairman of the University Grants Commission from 1995 to 1999.

During the 1990s, Professor Ahmed was the president of the Federation of University Teachers Association in Bangladesh (FUTA). He led the anti-autocratic movement.

Presidency

Ahmed became President of Bangladesh in 2002 after becoming the only candidate to register for presidential elections. By that time, the position of prime minister was considered the top political role in the Bangladesh government.

During his presidency, Ahmed directed the writing and publication of two books about the nation, Hundred Years of Bangabhaban and Bangabhabaner Shatabarsha. These were published in 2006 by Bangabhaban's press wing, under the initiative of his advisor, Mukhlesur Rahman Chowdhury.

Main article: 2006-2008 Bangladeshi political crisis

 

Bypass operation

On the afternoon of 23 May 2006, President Ahmed was admitted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka. Sources said he was seriously ill and being treated by a team of elite doctors. On their advice, President Ahmed was taken to Singapore on Wednesday, 24 May 2006. The 75-year-old president underwent a successful by-pass heart operation at the Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore. During President Ahmed's illness and recovery, in May–July 2006, rumours were reported in the media that he had died, or was going to be removed.

Personal life

Ahmed and his second wife, Anwara Begum, adopted a son, Imtiaz Ahmed Babu. Ahmed also has children from his first marriage: Susan and Adam. He has a total of four grandchildren: Aurora, Beryl, Adam and Arin.

Imtiaz Babu was arrested on 9 January 2012 on assault charges, for having attacked the registrar at the Atish Dipankar University of Science and Technology, a private university founded by his father. Babu is on the trustee board of ADUST.

Illness and death

Ahmed had additional heart surgery on 28 October 2012. After developing kidney-related complications, he spent more than a month on life support before dying on 10 December 2012 at Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand.

Statements of mourning were issued by President Zillur Rahman, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia and former Advisor to the President Mukhles Chowdhury. Iajudiin Ahmed's body was transported to Dhaka from Bangkok on 12 December 2012.

Four namaz-e-janazas were held for him. His first was held in Bangkok on 11 December 2012, the second namaz-e-janaza at his ancestral home in Munshiganj on 13 December, the third janaza in Dhaka University Central Masjid, and the fourth and last one was at Baitul Mukarram national masjid. Ahmed was buried in Banani graveyard.

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