Amazingly broad minded

I came in close contact with Barrister Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed when he became for the second time an Adviser to the care-taker government in July 2001. He was given the charge of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism. I was fortunate to work under him as the Chairman of Bangladesh Parjaton Corporation (BPC) within a week of his assumption of office of the Adviser, he met the officers of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism and the heads of the autonomous bodies under that ministry. He urged us all to work without fear or favour for the welfare of the country and its people. He requested us to give whole-hearted support to the care-taker government to enable it to hold the general election peacefully, fairly and impartially. When the meeting was almost over, he looked at me and asked me to take him to some important places which have got bright prospects to attract tourists from home and abroad so that he could do something for the promotion and development of tourism in the country during his tenure as Adviser. I took his wish seriously. But in spite of all efforts, I could take him only to four places of tourist attraction and these were the Sunderbans, Cox's Bazar, Rangamati and Chittagong. The visit to the Sunderbans was to see the prospects of eco-tourism there. The visit to Cox's Bazar, Rangamati and Chittagong were in conjunction with the programme of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs in those places. I knew that it was very difficult for him to spend a day or two outside the capital.

Barrister Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed was a very intelligent and large hearted man. During his tenure as the Adviser, he could realise the importance of tourism industry in the economy of Bangladesh. On the occasion of World Tourism Day on 27 September, 2001, I wrote an article in a number of national dailies. In the article I tried to say that Bangladesh possessed a natural tourism base which was an important pre-requisite for promotion and development of tourism industry, and how tourism could help create employment opportunities, earn foreign exchange and alleviate poverty in the country. Barrister Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed highly praised the article and on many an occasion, he mentioned that whatever he learned about tourism was due to me. This naturally embarrassed me. But I was amazed to see the broadness of his mind.

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It was either on the day of Eid-ul-Azha or on Independence Day of 2002 I met Barrister Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed last at Bangabhaban. I was then Secretary, Ministry of Food. He enquired about me and my family. It is my misfortune that I could not meet him again during his life time. I pray to Allah for the peace of the departed soul and express my sympathy to the members of the bereaved family.

M Abdul Latif Mondal is a former secretary to the government.