Dr. Emajuddin Ahmed

IN 1992, when I entered the University of Dhaka as an undergraduate student, professor Moniruzzaman Miah of the department of geography and environment was its vice-chancellor. Soon, however, the university had a new vice-chancellor, professor Emajuddin Ahmad of the department of political science, because Moniruzzaman Miah became Bangladesh’s ambassador to Senegal.

Some of us developed an added interest in professor Ahmad because we discovered a commonality with him. In the 1950s, he had studied an additional master’s degree in our subject, English literature. Although he was known as an eminent political scientist, we listened to him keenly whenever he was invited as an honourable guest to our department. Words — clear, distinct and measured — dropped like pearls and diamonds from his lips. His was a style of public speaking far removed from linguistic orthodoxy.