President's Life Sketch

Professor Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed

Hon'ble President
of the People's Republic of Bangladesh

Professor Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed was born at Munshiganj, a Sub divisional head quarter (now a district), South-East to Dhaka, on 1st February, 1931. He received his School and College education in Munshiganj. He got his B.Sc and M.Sc (Soil Science) degrees from the University of Dhaka in the years 1952 and 1954 respectively. He secured first class in the final examination of M.Sc. He then went abroad for higher studies and obtained his M.S(1958) and Ph.D (1962) degrees from the University of Wisconsin, U.S.A. majoring Soil Science and Plant Nutrition with financial assistance from Wisconsin Alumni Research Fellowship.

Getting back to country, he joined University of Dhaka as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Soil Science in 1963. He served the Dhaka University for about 33 years holding important posts such as Professor and Chairman of Department of Soil Science, Provost of Salimullah Muslim Hall (Student's Hall of Residence), Dean of the Faculty of Biological Sciences, Member of Dhaka University Senate, Syndicate, Academic Council and Board of Advanced Studies etc.

With the passing of years, Dr. Ahmed established himself as a renowned educationist of the country as well as a devoted Soil Scientist of international repute. He is regarded as one of the best Soil Scientists of South Asia. He invented a unique process of preservation of nutrients in the soil for long time supplying them to the plants as per their requirements. This invention brought him prestige and laurels from the University of Wisconsin. At home he conducted research on Salinity and screened out the salt resistant varieties of rice plants. He has 125-research papers to his credit published in various Journals at home and abroad.

He visited many global famous Universities and Institutions such as Cornell University, Louisiana State University, Salinity Research Laboratory, California, U.S.A (1983), Institute of Plant Nutrition, Technical University, Berlin (1984) Gottingen University, Germany (1984), Uppsala University, Sweden (1984), McGill and Concordia Universities, Canada (2001-2002), and many other universities in Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia as visiting Professor. He has attended many Scientific Conferences and Symposiums in India, U.S.A, Sweden, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Australia etc and presented papers.

Dr. Ahmed left Dhaka University in December 1990 for a while to join the first Caretaker Government of Bangladesh that led to a free and fair general election ever held which was highly acclaimed worldwide. As an Advisor to the Caretaker Government with the status of a Cabinet Minister, he was in charge of the Ministries of Food and Culture. He worked very hard there and brought definite changes in both the ministries, which were highly appreciated by his successors.

In his long colorful career, Dr. Ahmed also served as the Chairman, Bangladesh Public Service Commission (1991-1993) and Chairman, University Grants Commission (1995-1999), the highest body in the country to regulate the public and private universities. Thereupon, he was appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of State University of Bangladesh, one of the leading Private Universities of the country, where he worked till elected as the President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. He was sworn in to the office of the President on 6th September 2002. He is the 18th President of the Republic.

Professor Ahmed is attached with various professional and social welfare organizations. He is a member of International Society of Soil Science, Soil Science and Agronomical Society of America, Indian Society of Agricultural Scientists, Indian Society of Soil Science, Soil Science Society of Bangladesh, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh and Bangladesh Recreation Society etc. He was the President of Dhaka University Teachers' Association and convenor of the Combined Teachers' Movement in 1990 and that led to help in establishing democracy and peace in the country. He is also associated with a large number of philanthropic and humanitarian associations such as Atish Dipankar Foundation and Ibrahim Memorial Trust.

He received numerous laurels, awards from different organizations for his outstanding contributions made in the field of Education as well as for his philanthropic services made to the cause of humanity. To name a few, Dr. Ibrahim Memorial Gold Medal (1987), Srijnan Atish Dipankar Gold Medal (1990), Ekushey Padak (1995, country's highest medal of honour named after the language movement martyrs). He is also highly respected as a veteran activist of language movement. In recognition and propagation of Soil Science and to the development of the nation the academic committee of the Department of Soil, Water and Environment of Dhaka University honoured him as an Outstanding Soil Scientist of the country.

Dr. Ahmed is a widely traveled person. He has visited most of the important countries of the world including Australia, Canada, India, Germany, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sweden, United States of America, United Kingdom etc. He has represented Bangladesh in major international events, conferences and meetings of different international bodies. He attended the 49th UN General Assembly in 1994 and addressed the sessions on Palestine Refugees and on Global Trade and Development. Recently in Nov., 2007 he visited Ohio State University and New Orleans City, USA and presented papers on ' Education System in Bangladesh' and 'Bangladesh: Global Warming, Land inundation and Arsenic Poisoning'.

In personal life Dr. Ahmed is very cordial and amiable. A taciturn scholar as he is, Dr. Ahmed has always been described as a soft spoken and mild natured personality by his colleagues and admirers. He is always engaged to serve the distressed people. He is involved in various socio-economic activities. He has a wide range of interests including reading, gardening, rearing pets, traveling and listening to the recitation of the Holy Quran.

Professor Ahmed is married to Dr. Anwara Begum, a renowned Zoologist of the country. A former Full Bright Scholar and a Supernumerary and Honourary Professor in the Zoology Department of Dhaka University, earlier she also served as a Provost of Shamsunnahar Hall (Female Student's Hall of Residence) of Dhaka University. Professor Dr. Anwara Begum is currently the Vice Chancellor of the Atish Dipankar University of Science and Technology (ADUST). She got her M.S and Ph.D degrees from Auburn University, U.S.A. She was the President of Bangladesh Journal of Zoological Society and member of Bangladesh Zoological Association and Bangladesh Women Scientists Association. They have two sons Mr. Adam Ahmed and Mr. Imtiaz Ahmed and a daughter Ms. Susan Ahmed. All of their children are well established in their respective fields.

Professor Iajuddin Ahmed is very active to ensure welfare of the general citizenry and has devoted himself to the cause of humanity. A practicing Muslim with a progressive mindset, Dr. Ahmed is highly touched and inspired by the teachings of Hazrat Muhammad (SM), Lord Buddha, Jesus Christ and other great masters of human civilization.

(Updated as on June 16, 2008)

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