Staff Reporter: Eminent educationist and author Prof Zillur Rahman Siddiqui died on Tuesday night at the age of 86.He breathed his last at around 11:45pm at his house at Banani in the capital. His body has been kept at Samorita Hospital. The much-revered educationist, who was honoured with Bangla Academy Award and Swadhinata Padak, left behind his wife, three sons and a daughter.He was also a regular contributor to national dailies since Pakistan days. Two of his sons live abroad and the decision of his namaz-e-janaza and burial will be taken after consulting with them.Born at Durgapur in Jhenidah on February 23, 1928, Siddiqui matriculated from Jessore Zilla School in 1945. Later, he studied at Presidency College in Kolkata. He completed BA and MA in 1950 and 1951 respectively in English Literature at Dhaka University.Later, Siddiqui studied English literature at Worcester College of Oxford University from 1952-54.After teaching at Dhaka College, he moved to Rajshahi University to teach English. Later, Siddiqui started to teach at Jahangirnagar University. There, he served as vice-chancellor for two terms between 1976 and 1984.After retiring from JU, he took over as VC of Gono Bishwabidyalay in 2000 and retired voluntarily in 2003.Prof Siddiqui served as an adviser to the first caretaker government in 1991 heading the ministry of education.For his contribution to literature, he was honored with Alaol Shahitya Purashkar in 1977, Bangla Academy Award in 1979, Alokto Shahitya Purashkar in 1998 and Swadhinata Padak in 2010. Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury on Wednesday expressed their profound shock at the death of Professor Zillur Rahman Siddiqui.They prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed their deep sympathy to members of his bereaved family.
