AKM Jalaluddin
AKM Jalaluddin | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1942 |
| Died | 19 August 2014 |
| Nationality | Bangladeshi |
| Alma mater | University of Dhaka Australian National University |
| Occupation(s) | Civil servant, diplomat, academic |
| Known for | Ambassador of Bangladesh to Nepal Public intellectual Chancellor's Gold Medalist |
AKM Jalaluddin (c. 1942 – 19 August 2014) was a Bangladeshi civil servant, diplomat, and academic. He was the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Nepal and the Principal of the Foreign Service Academy.[1][2] He battled Parkinson’s disease for over three decades until his death.
Early life and education
[edit]Jalaluddin was born in Faridpur, where he attended Faridpur Zilla School.[3] In the 1958 Matriculation Examination under the Dacca Board, he secured seventh place.[3] He later ranked first in the Intermediate examination.[4][3] At the University of Dhaka, he initially studied economics but later switched to international relations, earning his master’s degree with first-class first honours and record marks.[3] A resident of Salimullah Muslim Hall, he was elected Assistant General Secretary of the hall’s student union.[3] He was also awarded the Chancellor's Gold Medal for his essay *Responsibility of Leadership*.[5][3]
Career
[edit]Before entering government service, Jalaluddin worked as a journalist.[3] He was a correspondent for the now-defunct Morning News.[3][6] He was a founding member of the Dhaka University Journalists' Association.[7] He later served as a lecturer in the Department of International Relations at the University of Dhaka.[8][3]
In 1965, he passed the Central Superior Services examination, placing first among Bengali candidates and second overall.[3] He joined the civil service in 1966, training at the Civil Service Academy in Lahore alongside a cohort that included future high-ranking officials such as Mohammad Farashuddin, AHM Mofazzal Karim, and ATM Shamsul Huda.[3]
Jalaluddin served as Sub-Divisional Officer in Chandpur and Vehari, and as Additional Deputy Commissioner in Multan.[3] As Deputy Commissioner in Mymensingh,[9] he played a key role in establishing the Zainul Abedin Art Gallery on the banks of the Brahmaputra.[3] He was later appointed Governor of Rangpur District under a new administrative framework of BAKSAL.[10][3]
After the events of 1975, Jalaluddin transitioned to the Ministry of Local Government and pursued doctoral studies at the Department of Demography at the Australian National University.[3][11][12] It was during this period that he first showed symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.[3]
After returning from Australia, Jalaluddin rejoined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[3] He served in various diplomatic roles, including postings in Paris and as principal of the Foreign Service Academy.[3] He was the principal of the academy from 1984 to 1985.[13][14] He was the minister at the Embassy of Bangladesh in Paris.[15] He served as the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Nepal from 17 August 1987 to 19 May 1989.[3][16] Toward the end of his career, he also served in the Ministry of Industries as an additional secretary,[17] and the Prime Minister's Office.[3]
Illness and death
[edit]Despite his illness, Jalaluddin remained intellectually active, collecting research on Parkinson’s disease and jokingly referring to it as his second PhD.[3] He died on 19 August 2014 in Mohammadpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh.[18] He was buried at the Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals' Graveyard.[18]
References
[edit]- ^ Nepal Press Digest. Regmi Research Project. 1987. p. 258.
- ^ From SARC to SAARC: 1983-1989. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. 1988. p. 86.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "AKM Jalaluddin: A scholar and mentor". The Daily Star. 2015-04-02. Archived from the original on 2024-12-15. Retrieved 2025-06-29.
- ^ "DU students of the early 1960s -". The Daily Observer. Retrieved 2025-06-29.
- ^ Illustrated Weekly of Pakistan. Pakistan Herald Publications. February 1965. p. 43.
- ^ "Exciting days as cub reporter: The time in the erstwhile Pakistan Observer in 1960-63 -". The Daily Observer. Retrieved 2025-06-29.
- ^ "Reporting as university correspondent". The Daily Star. 5 August 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
- ^ Dacca, University of (1966). Report - University of Dacca. p. 57.
- ^ Mahmud, Firoz (1987). The Museums in Bangladesh. Bangla Academy. p. 213.
- ^ Ullāha, Māhaphuja (2002). Press Under Mujib Regime. Kakali Prokashani. p. 158. ISBN 978-984-437-289-4.
- ^ Caldwell, John C. (2007-09-21). Demographic Transition Theory. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 106. ISBN 978-1-4020-4498-4.
- ^ Pillai, Vijayan; Shannon, Lyle (2024-11-01). Developing Areas: A Book of Readings and Research. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-040-27837-6.
- ^ "List of Principals". Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ^ "ফরেন সার্ভিস একাডেমি, বাংলাদেশ". fsa.gov.bd. Archived from the original on 2024-09-06. Retrieved 2025-02-17.
- ^ JPRS Report: Near East & South Asia. Foreign Broadcast Information Service. 1987. p. 58.
- ^ "List of ambassadors of Bangladesh to Nepal". embassies.info. Retrieved 2025-06-29.
- ^ Bangladesh Quarterly. Department of Films & Publications, Government of Bangladesh. July 1995. p. 11.
- ^ a b "AKM Jalal Uddin". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 2014-08-19. Retrieved 2025-06-29.