Prominent Educator, Citizen and Engineer Jamilur Reza Chaudhury (JRC) Passes away
By Dr A. Khan
Chicago, IL
Professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury, fondly called JRC by his students, friends and colleagues, passed away in the early hours of April 28, 2020 in Dhaka. Dr JRC broke the Ramadan fast (Iftar) on the evening of April 27, offered the Isha prayer and went to bed. When his wife Selina tried to wake him up for the next day’s pre-dawn meal (sahur), she discovered that his soul had departed on its heavenly journey.
Dr JRC was an outstanding educator and a civil engineer par excellence. He was one of the prominent citizens of Bangladesh who contributed significantly towards the development of the country with his dedicated services and visionary leadership.
Choudhury was born in Sylhet (Assam, British India) on November 15, 1943. His father, Abid Reza Choudhury (1905–1991), migrated to Dhaka, East Pakistan from Rangauty, Assam, British India. Abid was the first Muslim graduate (Civil Engineering) of Bengal Engineering Science University, in 1929. JRC received early education in Mymensingh. After his parents moved to Dhaka, JRC attended the Nawabpur Government High School and Saint Gregory’s High School, and passed his SSC exam in 1957. He attended Dhaka College (1957-59) and passed his HSSC exam in 1959. In 1963, he received his BSc (Civil Engineering) degree from the East Pakistan University of Engineering and Technology (EPUET, presently BUET), and then joined the Civil Engineering Department of EPUET as a lecturer. In 1964, on a scholarship, he proceeded to the University of Southampton, UK, and received an MSc advanced structural engineering degree in 1965, and a PhD (structural engineering) degree in 1968. After his return, he joined EPUET, Dhaka, as an assistant professor, and continued at BUET until 2001. He held many academic positions at BUET: Head of the Department, Dean of the Faculty (1983–85) and Director, Computer Center (1982–92). After completing his tenure at BUET, Dr JRC joined BRAC University in 2001, and served as the Vice-Chancellor until 2010.
Dr JRC served as the chairman of the task force for developing Software Export & IT Infrastructure in Bangladesh (1997-2000) at the Ministry of Commerce. He was a senior member of the Prime Minister's Task Force on developing Digital Bangladesh. In 2012, Dr JRC joined the University of Asia Pacific, and until his demise, served as the VC. In 2017, Dr JRC was awarded Ekushey Padak by the Government of Bangladesh for his contributions in science and technology. He was appointed a National Professor in 2018.
Dr JRC contributed immensely in the development of academic and civilian infrastructure in Bangladesh. As an academician he published numerous research papers on tall buildings, low-cost housing, earthquake-resistant designs, cyclones and storm surges, retrofitting of structures and IT applications and policy. With his expertise in civil and structural engineering, Dr JRC made a significant impact on the development of infrastructure in Bangladesh. He served as the team leader for the multipurpose cyclone shelter program, which served as a master plan for cyclone shelters in Bangladesh. Dr JRC advised the Government of Bangladesh, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and OECF, Japan, as part of a panel of experts for the Bangabandhu Bridge.
Dr JRC was the chairman of the Chittagong tunnel project panel of expert Committee. The project constitutes 2.4-kilometer long and 12.8-meter diameter twin tunnels carrying two lanes of vehicular traffic each way, currently being built under the Chittagong Karnaphuli River, and will be the first undersea tunnel in the subcontinent. He was also chairing many other committees on various mega projects currently in progress or in planning stages in Bangladesh, which include River Padma Bridge, Dhaka Subway Network, Dhaka Aashulia Bridge, etc. to name a few.
All his life, Dr JRC eagerly worked to promote excellence in academia and recognize others’ contributions. In this regard, Aminul Karim, former National Dean of Technology Programs, DeVry University, USA, observes: “I remember working with him twice. In1985, working with Dr John Beedle of Lehigh University as a team member to help commemorate Dr Fazlur Rahman Khan, whose numerous engineering works included the design of the Sears Tower. I met Dr Jamilur Reza Choudhury in Dhaka to explore the possibility of a donation from the Bangladesh government toward establishing a Fazlur Rahman Khan Chair at Lehigh. Dr Choudhury was very interested in the project and gave many helpful advice. In 1987, the Bangladeshi community in the Chicago area donated money to establish four academic scholarships at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). The University Vice Chancellor, Dr Matin Patwari, along with Professor Choudhury and Professor Nazma Zaman were involved in it.”
Reminiscing about Dr JRC’s personality and his contributions, Dr Mir M. Ali, Professor Emeritus and former Chairman of the Structures Division of the School of Architecture at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA, observes: “I remember JRC as a bright, highly professional, personable, amiable, and hospitable person, and of course as a friend and professional colleague. He has so many contributions. But some of his major contributions were that he was instrumental in establishing the foundation of BRAC University; he motivated his students with his teaching, mentoring, acting as a role model; chairing the Advisory Committee on the Strategic Transportation Planning for metro rail of which I was the only expatriate member; the committee was appointed by the Government of Bangladesh; he led many major committees for the large infrastructure projects since the early days of the independence of Bangladesh, networking with both domestic and international people, etc. He was a graceful, dignified, eloquent, and modest person. I knew Dr Choudhury since 1965, when he was at Ahsanullah Engineering College (presently BUET). He knew of my siblings and family, and I knew his; his father was my boss in Bangladesh. JRC had left a legacy and will be considered a legend. He had great impact on his students. Above all, he was a decent and good human being. I find it hard to ever forget a man like him.”
Dr JRC was also one of the founders of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), the largest civil society movement in Bangladesh for protection of the environment, and served as its first president.
Professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury, was a soft spoken, humble and a passionate person. He is survived by his wife Selina Choudhury (a biophysicist), daughter Charisma Farheen Choudhury (an Associate Professor at the Institute for Transport Studies, School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, UK) and son Kaashif Reza Choudhury (an electrical engineer, Director, R & D, at Track Innovative Technologies Ltd. in Dhaka). May God bless his soul:
The shop of Oneness,
The Ocean that has many harbors,
Yet where there is no division
Between man and man, or woman,
But only a unity of souls
In the process of return to their Creator,
Whose breath lives inside each one
And helps to guide us home
--- Rumi
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