CIRDAP – Enabling Rural Communities

Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP)

An Intergovernmental & Autonomous Organization; Established in 1979, Mandated for Promoting & Strengthening Integrated Rural Development Systems for 15 Asia-Pacific Countries; Namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Fiji, India, Indonesia, IR Iran, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand & Vietnam.

Condolence

By /

A.T.M. Shamsul Haque (1934 – 20 July 2022)

B.A. (Hons.) in Economics,

M.A. in International Relations and

LL.B. Dhaka University

It was with great sadness to learn that Mr. A.T.M. Shamsul Haque, the former director general of CIRDAP passed away on 20 July 2022. On behalf of H.E. Chalermchai Sri-on, the Chairman of the Governing Council of CIRDAP, and the CIRDAP Secretariat, we would like to express our sincere condolences to his family.

Mr. A.T.M. Shamsul Haque was the Chairman, Public Administration Reform Commission (PARC), Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, from 1998-2001 with the rank and status of a cabinet minister. Before that he had taken voluntary retirement in 1993 from the post of a Secretary to the Government of Bangladesh. He took the position as the Director General of CIRDAP for two consecutive terms from 6 July 1984 to 5 July 1988 and from 6 July 1988 to 5 July 1992. He shifted the CIRDAP Headquarters from the Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD), Comilla to “Chameli House” in Dhaka. He mobilised substantial funds for CIRDAP and made the Centre known to the international community through the implementation of a large number of projects. He initiated the Asia-Pacific Journal of Rural Development (APJORD) as well as the CIRDAP monogramme and flag. During his incumbency, the first ever Ministerial Meeting on Rural Development in Asia-Pacific was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh in 1987. He was instrumental in having the Ministers in charge of Rural Development of CIRDAP Member Countries as members of the CIRDAP Governing Council. He promoted human resource development in the CMCs and built up more than 1,500 alumni for the organization. In recognition of his significant contribution to the organization, the Governing Council of CIRDAP has endorsed the award of the Aziz-Ul Haq Rural Development Medal to him on 21st April 2022.

We, the staff of the CIRDAP Secretariat would like to pay tribute to him for his leadership and invaluable contributions to CIRDAP which have paved the way for today’s CIRDAP and to rural development for improving the livelihoods and economic development of rural communities. May he rest in peace.

With our deepest condolences.

CIRDAP Secretariat

20 July 2022

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