Tributes
Professor Biswas: A Serious Professor and Engaged Researcher
By Dr. Wais Kabir
It was in winter 1973 at Bangladesh Agricultural University in Mymensingh. We initiated our dream to become agriculture engineers. It was the same batch (class year) accommodated in a newly built hall where we had our initial stay, possibly the first time away from home, free birds of the same flock.
We had an immense dream after our liberation in 1971 when Bangabandhu called for a green revolution to grow food to eradicate hunger and poverty from the newly-born Bangladesh. What other professions could be better than Agri engineering to fulfil the dream of the visionary leader like the architect of the country. So, the excitement of serving the nation after graduation was an attraction.
We started with the basic science of the university and started peeping into those professors who were regarded as monuments in the faculty. One such faculty member was Professor Mujibur Rahman Biswas, a well-built tall, smart teacher whom we saw from distances. Fear of meeting a figure like him, a respectful image of him, kept us aloof.
"He triggered the privatization of minor irrigation programs in the country that helped to boost dry season boro cultivation with farmers' management. He contributed to organizing Thana (a local government unit) Irrigation Committee to bring efficient use of water resources involving the community."
After a challenging first year (freshman year), we moved to the second year (sophomore level) and came closer to those senior teachers (many students unluckily failed to move from first year to second-year). Professor Biswas was teaching hydrology. I can remember his inherent art of teaching. With his Gopalganj accent, he was a very serious and well-organized professor. We saw him very active on all academic issues even beyond his faculty (school). We never saw him talking about any other issues but engineering. All students were equal to him. His huge personality put him at a different height.
Later, I joined in research system management and found him engaged in research in water management. I used to have regular interaction with Biswas sir during the 1980s and 1990s. Very serious in research, Professor Biswas contributed a lot to water sector development and produced a large number of publications. These outputs got recognition at home and abroad. He has a major contribution in the minor irrigation sector led by tubewell. He triggered the privatization of minor irrigation programs in the country that helped to boost dry season boro cultivation with farmers' management. He contributed to organizing Thana (a local government unit) Irrigation Committee to bring efficient use of water resources involving the community.
We owe Biswas sir for the knowledge and education he gave us in building our career with honesty, dedication and hard work. I am personally grateful to him for his love, affection and wisdom.
We pray to almighty Allah for granting him Jannat (heaven).
Dr. Wais Kabir is former Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council.