The Asiatic Society of Bangladesh (ASB) on Saturday honoured 47 members aged 80 and above, recognising decades of contributions to scholarship, research, public life and the Society’s development.
The recipients were felicitated with floral bouquets, shawls and commemorative crests at the Honouring ASB Octogenarians programme held at the Society’s auditorium in Dhaka.
The honourees included eminent academics and educationists Professor Emeritus A K M Yaqub Ali, Nurur Rahman Khan, Abdullah Abu Sayeed, Aminul Islam, Amirul Islam Chowdhury, Habiba Khatun, Jahanara Huq Choudhury, Kazi Nurul Islam, Khondoker Bazlul Hoque, M Delwar Hossain, M Mufakharul Islam, Md Abu Baker Siddique, Md Sohrab Ali, Mesbah-us-Saleheen, Abu Bakar Siddiquee, Muhammad Yunus, Nazrul Islam, Niaz Zaman, Perween Hasan, Quazi Quamruzzaman, Razia Khanam, Rehman Sobhan, Serajul Islam Choudhury, Sharif Uddin Ahmed, Sikandar Dara Shamsuddin, Sirajul Islam, Syed Md Humayun Kabir, Wakil Ahmed, Z N Tahmida Begum and Zia Uddin Ahmed.
Also honoured were lawyer Kamal Hossain; economist Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad; writer and researcher Hameeda Hossain; alongside Asif Ali, Ayesha Begum, M Enamul Huq, M Fazlur Rahman, M Nazrul Islam, Majeda Sabir, Mohammad Arshad Ali, Md Rezwanul Haque, Muhammad Masum Ali Khan Majlis, Muhammed Sohul Hussain, Rashida Zaman, Sharifa Khatun, Siraj Uddin Ahmed and Md Amjad Hossain.
ASB President Harun-or-Rashid said the Society has promoted knowledge through fundamental research, scholarly lectures and publications since its establishment in 1952, continuing the intellectual tradition of the Asiatic Society of Calcutta, founded by Sir William Jones in 1784 to advance the study of Asia’s people and nature.
General Secretary Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman Khan said the programme recognised the honourees’ lifelong achievements and enduring association with the Society while seeking their continued guidance for its future development.
The recipients shared memories of their association with the Society before the programme concluded with a vote of thanks and a group photograph. Fellows, council members, scholars, researchers, government officials and well-wishers attended the ceremony.
