National Professor of Bangladesh, Anisuzzaman died today in the afternoon at CMH in Dhaka, his son Ananda Zaman has confirmed.
He was a Dhaka University Professor Emeritus. On April 27th, He was admitted to Universal Medical College Hospital following his serious illness.
He was moved to Combined Military Hospital on May 9, as his condition wasn’t improving. Aside from heart problems, the 83-year-old eminent educationist had been affected by kidney and lungs complications, and respiratory problems, his son informed.
Professor Anisuzzaman was one of the prolific essayists of Bangladesh. Previously, he was hospitalized for one week in beginning of April.
Anisuzzaman made an enormous contribution to Bangla language and Bangla literature by his research and writings, He left behind two daughters, a son and his wife to mourn his death.
Professor Anisuzzaman was one of the leading intellectuals of Bangladesh. He was an alumna of Bangla Department in The University of Dhaka. He taught at University of Dhaka and at University of Chittagong. He did his post-doctoral fellowship at University of Chicago, and he worked as a Commonwealth Academic Staff Fellow at University of London.
He was also consorted with several research projects of United Nations University. He was a visiting fellow at University of Paris, North Carolina State University, University of Calcutta, and a visiting professor at India’s Visva-Bharati.
He was awarded Ekushey Padak and Swadhinata Padak, which are the highest state awards given by the government of Bangladesh, for his contribution to education.
He was awarded with Padma Bhusan by the Indian government, which is India’s third highest civilian honor, for his distinguished service in fields of Bangla literature and education.
Anisuzzaman was born in Kolkata in 1937. After the partition in 1947, he and his family migrated to Bangladesh.
His scholarly work in Bangla literature, altruistic love for Bangladesh and contribution as a professor remain a source of inspiration to every generation.
Anisuzzaman didn’t only preach theories within the classroom, but he was also a renowned soul-searching researcher of Bengali culture, language and literature. His research into the reflection of the Muslim mind in 19th century Bengali literature and into pre-19th century Bengali prose were innovative.
Anisuzzaman played a major role by actively participating in all democratic movements — from the Language Movement of 1952 to Liberation War in 1971, for the restoration of democracy in Bangladesh in the 1980s, and for the trial of war criminals later. He appeared as a witness before the International Crimes Tribunal. He remained a champion for the cause of secularism.
He was one of the members of Bangladesh’s Planning Commission while the Liberation War was on going and a member of the National Education Commission set up by the government after independence. He was a vital figure in translating the Constitution of Bangladesh in Bangla in 1972. He also served as chairman of the Trustee Board of the Nazrul Institute and also was the president of Bangla Academy from 2012 till the last day of his life.
