Staff Correspondent 

The  17th death anniversary of heroic freedom fighter  Engineer Quamrul Islam Siddique, former Chief Engineer of LGED was observed on Monday. 

He was born on January 20, 1945 in Kushtia district and passed away on September 1, 2008 in New Jersey, USA, following a cardiac arrest.

He completed his graduation in Civil Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in 1966 and obtained his Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Sheffield, UK in 1977. 

A man of multifaceted talent, skill, and foresight, he was one of the pioneers of rural infrastructure development in Bangladesh. In post-independence Bangladesh, he demonstrated remarkable vision in improving rural infrastructure. His timely plans, initiatives, and their successful implementation elevated rural infrastructure development to new heights. He actively took part in the Liberation War of 1971 as a freedom fighter, and inspired by the spirit of the war, he dedicated his life to the service of the nation. His contributions towards improving the rural socio-economic conditions of Bangladesh will be remembered and emulated both at home and abroad.

Engineer  Siddique was also an efficient administrator and a man of innovative thinking. He served as Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, Chairman of Bangladesh Power Development Board, President of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB), and Executive Director of Dhaka Transport Coordination Board. He was also elected as the first Chairperson of the South Asia region of the Global Water Partnership for the 2003–2004 tenure.

In the history of rural infrastructure development in South Asia, Quamrul Islam Siddique remains a distinguished personality. On the occasion of his death anniversary, Qur’an recitation and doa mahfil have been arranged on Monday  after Zohr prayer at the LGED headquarters, as well as at divisional, regional, and district offices.