Jamilur Reza Choudhury

Jamilur Reza Choudhury
Born	(1943-11-15) 15 November 1943 Sylhet, British Raj
Nationality	Bangladeshi
Alma mater	Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, University of Southampton
Known for	Academics, research, civil engineering, former adviser to Caretaker Government of Bangladesh
Spouse(s)	Selina Nawroz Choudhury

Jamilur Reza Choudhury (born 15 November 1943) is a Bangladeshi civil engineer, professor, researcher, and education advocate. He is a former Adviser (Minister) to Caretaker Government of Bangladesh (April–June, 1996).^[1] He is the vice chancellor of University of Asia Pacific.^[2] He is also the president of Bangladesh Mathematical Olympiad Committee from 2003.

Early life and background

Choudhury was born in Sylhet (during British colonial rule) on 15 November 1943. His father, Abid Reza Choudhury (1905-1991), was a renowned civil engineer who had migrated to Dhaka in 1952 (after the Partition of India) from Rangauty, a rural area of Hailakandi (Assam, India). Abid was the first Muslim to graduate from Bengal Engineering and Science University, in 1929 (notable due to systematic marginalization and discrimination against Muslims in the region in educational and economic advancement common in British India). His mother, Hayatun Nessa Choudhury (née Laskor) (1922-2010) was a homemaker, from the Nitainagar area of Hailakandi. Jamilur is the middle child of five siblings.

Personal life

Choudhury married Selina "Emy" Nawroz Choudhury (née Mallick) in September 1974 and currently resides in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Their only daughter, Charisma, was born in 1977, and their only son, Kaashif, was born in 1981.

Education

Choudhury began school in 1950 (age 6) at the Mymensingh Zilla School. After his family moved to Dhaka from Mymensingh in 1952, he transferred to Nawabpur Government High School, and transferred once more to a private Catholic school, St Gregory's High School, in 1953. Jamilur attended Dhaka College from 1957-1959 and earned his Bachelor of Science Degree (Civil Engineering) from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in 1963. Upon graduation from BUET (First Class First with Honours), he became a lecturer in the Civil Engineering Department that same year. He earned a Masters of Science in Engineering Degree (advanced structural engineering) in 1965 and a PhD in structural engineering in 1968, both at University of Southampton.

Choudhury was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Engineering (Honoris Causa) by Manchester University on 20 October 2010 – the first person of Bangladeshi origin to receive this honor from a British University.^[2]

Working Area

Immediately after publication of results of BSC Engineering, he joined as a faculty of East Pakistan University of Engineering and Technology (EPUET) pending formal appointment. In November 1963, he formally joined as a Lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering & began his long teaching career. In September 1964 he was awarded a scholarship by Burmashell to pursue MS in structural engineering. His thesis was on "Cracks in Concrete Beam using Computer Aided Design". In 1968, he was conferred a PhD degree on the topic of "Shear Wall & Structural Analysis of High rise Building". After completing PhD he returned to East Pakistan in 1968 & joined East Pakistan University of Engineering & Technology as an Assistant Professor. In 1973 he was promoted to Associate Professor of Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology (BUET)and in 1976 a full Professor. In 1975, he was offered Nuffield scholarship to pursue post doctoral Fellowship at Surrey University in UK. Until 2001 he was working as a Professor at BUET. He was also entrusted with developing a "Computer Center" at BUET and was appointed Director for about 10 years. He served as vice-chancellor of BRAC University between 2001 and 2010.^[3] Dr. Choudhury was appointed Chairman of task force for developing Software Export & IT Infrastructure in Bangladesh from 1997 to 2000 under Ministry of Commerce. He was a ranking member of the Prime Minister's Task Force on developing Digital Bangladesh. Besides he is involved with several local and international organizations. Currently he is working as vice-chancellor of the University of Asia Pacific (UAP) .^[4] He was the Technical Adviser of Padma bridge.^[2] He is the president of Bangladesh Mathematical Olympiad Committee.

Award

• Sheltech Award (2010) ^[5]
• Bangladesh Engineering Institution Gold medal (1998)
• Dr. Rashid Gold medal, (1997)
• Rotary Sid Award, (2000)
• Lions International (District-315) Gold Medal
• Received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Manchester. He is the only Bangladeshi, who is kind of a British university degree in engineering subjects received.^[6]
• Jica Recognition Award ^[7]
• Star Lifetime Award (2016)^[8]

References