Dr Shelley passes away

  Holiday Desk
Dr Mizanur Rahman Shelley, a former Minister, brilliant civil servant and writer passed away on August 12 while undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) hospital in Dhaka. He was 76.
Shelley was born on 2 January 1943 in Munshiganj District’s Kusumpur Village. After completing study from University of Dhaka he joined its Political Science Department as a teacher.
In 1967, he resigned from the post and joined Government Service. He obtained a PhD from the University of London in International Politics. He resigned from Government Service in 1980. He was the Director of Social Welfare Department at that time.
He also served as Minister of Information Ministry and Water Resources Ministry in 1990.
Shelley was the Founding Chairman of the Center for Development Research Bangladesh and editor of Asian Affairs. He was also the Chairman of Premier Leasing and Finance. He was the Advisory Editor of Weekly Sochitro Swadesh and Trust Chairman of the Bangladesh Times.
His writings were published in national dailies of Bangladesh. He wrote books about sociology and politics. He also wrote books covering other topics. In 2008 he received an honorary fellowship from the Bangla Academy.
He was also Overseas Director of American Institute of Bangladesh Studies (AIBS) which CDRB represents. AIBS is an association of 18 Universities and colleges of the USA, to promote scholarly-level exchange and understanding between Bangladesh and USA especially in academic and research circles.
Among the member institutions of the AIBS are : Universities of Pennsylvania, Columbia, Syracuse, Chicago, Colonell, UCLA, — ANM Texas, Penn State & Washington etc. The AIBS-CDRB is also a member of the Council of American Overseas Research Centres (CAORC) (1989- up to date)
He was the Chief Adviso of City University Dhaka.
Furthermore, he has deep affinity and attachment with number of Socio-cultural and socio-economic activities which include member of National Education Advisory Council in 1978; Bangladesh Jail Reforms Commission in 1978-80; Bangladesh Film Censor Board in 1985-86; National Disaster Prevention Council in 1988-90; National Population Council of Bangladesh in 1989-90; the Fourth Wage Board for Newspaper Employees in 1989-90 and so on.
In recognition of his meritorious and intellectual activities Dr. Shelley was awarded the highest Polish Order of Merit by Lech Walesa, a Nobel Laureate for peace in 1991. He also received the Michael Modhushudan Dutta award for his contribution to creative literature and social service 1999.
Shelley was married to Sufia Rahman who died in 2016. They have two sons Tahmid Ibne Mizan and Arif Ibne Mizan.