Abdul Mannan Choudhury (born 1 January 1948) is a Bangladeshi academic, educationist and freedom fighter of the liberation war 1971 of Bangladesh. He is currently the Vice-Chancellor of the World University of Bangladesh^[1]and Professor Emeritus.^[2] He was formerly a professor and a selection grade professor at the University of Dhaka.^[3]He is also one of the Advisors of the National Council for Freedom Fighters, President of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatun Nesa Mujib Parishad & Swadinata Shikkoh Parishad, Honorary Fellow of Bangla Academy and winner of several gold medals for education, administrative and war of liberation. Only recently, he has been adjudicated by a foreign organization as the best manager of the year.

Education

Choudhury was born in Comilla District of Bangladesh. He completed his PhD from London, his MBA from Manchester Business School^[4] and Master of Commerce from the Dhaka University.^[5]

Academic Administration

Mr. Choudhury started his academic career in the late 70’ as lecturer of commerce, Dhaka University with previous experience in tertiary education. He was promoted to the post of Assistance Professor in 1975 & Associate Professor in 1978. He left the country to serve at the Byero University of Kano (BUK), Nigeria; held the position of Head of Management, Academic Dean, President of the Teachers Association and Syndicate Member of the BUK and Editorial Board of Social Science Journal. He came back to Bangladesh in 1985 and became a Professor in the Department of Management, Dhaka University in 1987. He also taught at the Ahmedo Bello University of Nigeria on part time basis and Public Administration department of Dhaka University. He was the proctor of University of Dhaka from 1987 to 1989.[3] Professor of Management at Dhaka University from 1989-1992. In 1992, he was promoted as a Selection Grade Professor of Management in 1992.

Career

Dr. Choudhury has spent almost 55 years in teaching, administrator at home and abroad and published substantial number of academic and non-academic work. Besides, being a successful teacher, he was the Chairman of the Department of Management, Dhaka University, founder Director of the Evening MBA Program of the same department and the founder Chairman of the Department of Management Information Systems in Dhaka University. He played an instrumental role in the launching of the Tourism and Hospitality Management Department of the same faculty. He was an architect of the present day monumental physical structure of the Faculty of Business Studies in Dhaka University. From 2007 to 2010 worked as Vice Chancellor of World University of Bangladesh with leave from Dhaka University, although acted as Chief Advisor right from the inception of World University of Bangladesh in 2003.[7] In 2012 he joined again as the Vice Chancellor of World University of Bangladesh on resigning from the post of HOD in MIS department of Dhaka University & Selection Grade Professor. Thereafter, he has been holding this position in the same university.

Other roles

The other roles he played were the Editor of the Department and Faculty Journals, Proctor of Dhaka University, Provost of Salimullah Muslim Hall, member of the Finance Committee and member of Dhaka University Senate and teacher’s Club as well as longest serving member of the Academic Council of the Military Institute of Science & Technology (MIST). Apart from these roles, he floated, chaired and maintained dozens of academic as well as socio-cultural organizations.

Award, medals and decorations

He has earned number of Gold Medals, decorations, Trophies, Certificates, honors, awards including honorary Fellowship of Bangla Academy for his involvement in the independent movement, liberation war and transformation of the society. He is at present one of the advisors of the National Council of the Freedom Fighters, where the honorable Prime Minister of the country is the Chief Advisor. Apart from being a successful academic and organizer, he has written or edited around 25 books which mostly deal with the War of Independence, Father of the Nation, Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatun Nessa Mujib, Birth Centenary of Bangabandhu, the spirit of the Liberation War and on Dhaka University. He writes columns in renowned dailies almost every week and participates in talk shows on different TV channels.

Other administrative experience

Choudhury was elected as the president of National Management Association in 1996. He was the director of Bangladesh Commerce Bank Ltd in 1998-2001.[8] National Board of Drugs and Narcotics, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Bangladesh (1999), Prison Reforms Committee, Ministry of Social Welfare and Government of Bangladesh (1998).[9] He is a life member of Manchester Business School Association, Association of British Council Scholars and National Management Association of Bangladesh and many other socio-cultural organizations. He was the longest sitting member in the senate of Dhaka University.

Contribution in Bangladesh Liberation War

Choudhury was a part of the history of Bangladesh 71. He is a freedom fighter and he took part in several movements related to Bangladesh Liberation War.^[6] He was the only university teacher of the then East Pakistan who fought the War of Independence after receiving guerilla warfare training at Indian Military Academy at Dehradun of India in 1971. [10] He participated in the Education movement in 1962 and accepted the membership of BLF (Bangladesh Liberation Front) an organization created by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib for the Liberation of Bangladesh in 1962. He openly took part in the 6 point program of Awami League & 11 point program of the students as a student leader and a student activist which were precursor to Liberation War. As a teacher of Dhaka University he moved a motion for the total emancipation of the Bengali Nation. This was un-ominously accepted by teachers of Dhaka University. He was also a Think-Tank member which was created in Dhaka University at that time. He received direct order for armed struggle from father of the nation on 28th February 1971 and had close Liaison with him till his assassination. Then he initiated training of the prospective members of the Liberation War and Launched the Resistance War at Comilla. Then he got re-trained at Indian Military Academy, Deharadun and Conducted Guerilla warfare with several thousands of students or youths trained up at Halflong & Chakrata. He worked as Chief of Mujib Bahini (BLF) Eastern Command for several months. After the surrender of Pakistan Army he joined back to Dhaka University. Now, he is Professor Emeritus and Vice Chancellor of the World University of Bangladesh, which is fully recognized by the government of Bangladesh & University Grants Commission of Bangladesh (UGC). He is also a member of the Bangladesh Accreditation Council (BAC) & running Vice Chairman of Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh (APUB). He was an advisor of National Council for Freedom Fighters for consecutive three terms where the Prime Minister of the country provide the leadership as Chief Advisor.

Books

• PREETI O SMRITIMOY SHOTOBORSI DHAKA BISOBIDALOY

• KISHORE KISHORIDER CHOKHE BANGABANDHU SHEIKH MUJIBUR RAHMAN

• RAKTE RANJIT 6 DAFA DIVAS 7TH JUNE 1966

• BONGOMATA FAZILATUNNESSA MUJIB SMARAK GRANTH

• AMAR DEKHA BANGABANDHU SHEIKH MUJIB

• SMRITITEY BANGABANDHU SHEIKH MUJIB

• PROSONGO: BANGABANDHU SHEIKH MUJIB

• MUKTIJUDDHE MUJIB BAHINI

• BANGABANDHU SHEIKH MUJIBKE NIYE KICHHU GHATANA O RATNA

• SMRITI MANIKOTHAY BANGABANDHU

• GHATAK DALAL NIRMUL ANDOLONE SMRITIBAHI 1993 SAL

• MUKTIJUDDHA O MUKTIJUDDHER CHETNA O GHATAK DALAL PROSONGE

• MUKTIJUDDHER PRASANGIK KATHA

• NETA, NETRI O NETRITTO

• LEADERS, LEADERSHIP & POLITICS IN BANGLADESH

• BANGABANDHU O BANGLADESHKE NIYE MITH O MITHYACHAR

• BANGLADESHER MUKTIJUDDHE SAPTAHIK BANGLADESH

• BONGOMATA FAZILATUNNESSA MUJIB SMARAK GRANTH

• MUKTIJUDDHA O MUJIB BAHINI

• NIRBACHAN NIYE JATO KATHA

• AMAAR MA O AMRAVATI KATIPOY SANTAN

• DUI DEH EK PRAN

• ARAJANITIKER RAJNITI

• SHEIKH MUJIB THEKE JATIR PITA

• MUKTIJUDDHER CHETNA O GHATAK DALAL PROSONGO.

References