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Professor Muzaffar Ahmad. Photo: Star File

Professor Dr Muzaffar Ahmed was one of the leading economists of Bangladesh. His contribution in Bangladesh's economic and educational development was enormous. As the leader of different civil society organisations he led many civilian movements for national development. We remember this great scholar of our country on his 2nd death anniversary.

Born in 27th March 1936 Muzaffar Ahmed was an extraordinary, brilliant student.
He graduated from the department of economics of Dhaka University
He received a scholarship for higher studies at the Sorbonne in Paris from where he moved to the University of Chicago to do his PhD
There he studied under Nobel laureate Milton Friedman but developed his own thought different from free market theory

Muzaffar returned to Dhaka University with his PhD in 1965 and joined the economics department as a teacher
For his anti establishment stance he was soon black listed by the then dictatorial government of Ayub Khan
Due to political persecution from the university authority Muzaffar left DU in 1967
Later Muzaffar joined the East Pakistan Industrical Corporation in 1968 as the director of planning
During his tenure he built up the industrial foundation of Bangladesh overcoming many obstacles from the influential non Bengali industrialists

Muzaffar was appointed as one of the members of Planning Commission set by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and prepared the 1st five year plan
During the 80's Dr Muzaffar joined the Insitute of Buisness Administration, Dhaka University as its director
Muzaffar built up IBA as one of the best educational institutions of South Asia which still maintains its reputation
In 1985 he was elected as the president of Bangladesh Economic Association

After his retirement as a teacher Muzaffar engaged himself in various civilian movements.  
He led Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (BAPA) an environmentalist organization that specially fought against encroachment of rivers by land grabbers
Muzaffer was equally active as the chair of Transparency International, Bangladesh, where the organisation became the guardian voice against the endemic corruption
As the chair of “Shujon”, Muzaffer became a bold and non-partisan voice in favour of better governance

For his contributions Dr Muzaffar Ahmed was awarded with Ekushey Padak in 2008
He was an emeritus professor at theInstitute of Business Administration of the University of Dhaka
On 22nd May, 2012 this  great scholar died of old age ailments.