Dr Akbar Ali Khan, a freedom fighter, eminent economist and former advisor to the caretaker government, has been laid to rest at the Martyred Intellectual Cemetery in Mirpur of the capital.
Akbar Ali served different organisations including the Water Resources Ministry, Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre, Finance Division, Cabinet Division and World Bank.
He was buried around 3 pm on Friday following a namaz-e-janaza at Azad Mosque in Gulshan. Akbar Ali Khan was given a guard of honour after the janaza from the Dhaka district administration. He was later taken to Mirpur martyred intellectuals' graveyard for burial.
Akbar Ali Khan, an economist, historian and writer, breathed his last on Thursday. He was 78. Planning Minister MA Mannan,
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder and trustee Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, among others, participated in the namaj-e-janaza.
While reminiscing about the late economist, Zafrullah Chowdhury said, “Suddenly it seemed a bright star fell from the sky. I saw how he ran with files from Theater Road No 8 to Hussain Ali Office during the Liberation War. He continued supporting the Liberation War silently.”
Earlier in the day, his body was taken to his Dhaka residence from the Evercare Hospital. His relatives, near and dear ones, and eminent citizens paid last tributes to him.
Dr Akbar Ali Khan was born in 1944 in Nabinagar upazila of Brahmanbaria district. He obtained honors and master's degree in History from Dhaka University and then achieved master's degree and PhD in Economics from Queen’s University in Canada. In 1967, he joined the Civil Service of Pakistan (CSP).
A military court of the occupation forces then sentenced him to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment in absentia for actively working with the provisional government of Bangladesh during the Liberation War 1971.
Akbar held various positions in the bureaucracy. He was former cabinet secretary, former finance secretary, and also headed the National Board of Revenue. He also held the position of alternate executive director at World Bank.
He was advisor in charge of the Ministries of Finance, Planning, Commerce, Post, Telegraph and Telephones of the caretaker government in 2006 and resigned in protest against the failure of the chief advisor in ensuring a free, fair and impartial election. He also served as the first chairman of the Regulatory Reforms Commission during 2007-2009.
Akbar penned 17 books. He also wrote about politics and literature. He was awarded Justice Mohammad Ibrahim Gold Medal for his book 'Discovery of Bangladesh'.
He was also awarded Honorary Fellowship by Bangla Academy for his contribution to economics.