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LIFE SKETCH
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Eminent soil scientist and educationist Professor Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed took oath of office as President of the Republic on 6 September 2002. Chief Justice of Bangladesh SC Justice Mainur Reza Chowdhury administered the oath of office to the President-elect. Professor Dr. Iajuddin is the fourth President to be elected by the JS since the restoration of parliamentary system in 1991.
Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed was born on 1 February 1931 and hails from Nayagaon of Munshiganj district. Son of Moulvi Ibrahim Mia, he passed matriculation examination from Munshiganj H. E. School in 1948 and I.Sc. from Haraganga College in 1950. He obtained B. Sc. in 1952 and M. Sc. in 1954, securing First Class from DU. He also did post-graduate studies abroad and received Masters degree in 1958 and Ph. D. in 1962 from Wisconsin University, USA.
He joined DU as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Soil Science in May 1963, became Reader in the same Department in August 1964 and Professor in December 1973. He was Chairman of the Department in 1968-69 and in 1976-79. Professor Iajuddin Ahmed was also Provost of Salimullah Hall from 1975-83. He was elected Dean of Biological Science Faculty for a term of two years, 1989-91. Professor Iajuddin was an elected member of the Senate and Syndicate. As elected President of the DU Teachers?Association (DUTA), he played a leading role against the autocratic regime of General Ershad by organizing the professional groups and thereby earned the admiration of the nation. He was appointed an Advisor to the Interim Government of 1990-91, and held the charge of the Ministry of Food and Culture. Professor Dr. Iajuddin was Chairman of Public Service Commission (PSC), 1991-93; and also Chairman of University Grants Commission (UGC), 1995-99.* As a leading member of the civil society, Professor Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed was outspoken in upholding the democratic values of the society. He joined State University as Vice-Chancellor in 2002. Professor Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed has to his credit a large number of research papers, forty-eight of which have so far been published in foreign journals. He has been decorated with Ekusay Padak in 1995 for his contribution in the field of education. He received Ibrahim Gold Medal in 1987-88 and Atish Dipankar Gold Medal in 1990 for outstanding research and publications. Besides English, Bengali and Urdu language, Professor Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed knows Spanish and French reasonably well.
Professor Ahmed is married to educationist Professor Dr. Anwara Begum. She is now the vice-chancellor of a private university - Atish Dipankar University. The university was established as a result of the initiative and patronage of President Iajuddin Ahmed.
Professor Iajuddin is father of three children.