Library and Information professionals mourn death of LIS legend Dr Mirza Mohd. Rezaul Islam

Ahasan, Dhaka, 16 March 2019

The Library and Information professional legend, Dr Mirza Mohd. Rezaul Islam, Librarian, Islamic University of Technology (IUT), and Chairman, Bangladesh Association of Librarians, Information Scientists and Documentalists (BALID) has passed away on Friday, 15 March 2019 at 12:00 noon at Uttara Adhunik Hospital (Inna lillahi Oa Inna Ilahi Razeun).

On Monday, March 11, at around 7:00 am he was admitted to the Uttara Adhunik Hospital, Dhaka after he suffered a massive stroke.

He left behind his wife and two sons and a host of relatives, friends, colleagues and well-wishers to mourn his death. His first Namaz-e-Janaza was held on (15 March 2019) after Asr Prayers at Dhaka University Central Masjid and second Namaz-e-Janaza was held at Noor A Macca Mosque, Eastern Housing, Pallabi, Mirpur after Esha prayer of the same date. He was buried at Kalshi graveyard, Mirpur, Dhaka.

Family

Dr Reza was born on 18 August 1959 in New Town, Netrokona. He was the fourth son of Mirza Mohd Abdul Hannan and Ms Rahatun Nesa. His two sons; Mirza Mohd Asif Sakib and Mirza Mohd Tehzib Sadaf are studying Independent University of Bangladesh and Ahsanullha University of Engineering and Technology respectively. His wife Ms Ummay Salma obtained an MA in Library and Information Science degree from the University of Dhaka too.

Education and Profession

He obtained his PhD degree in Library and Information Science from Jadavpur University, India in 1998. Prior to this, he completed a master’s degree in Library science at Dhaka University in 1984.

Dr Reza started his professional career with Grameen Bank. Later, he worked for the British Council, Dhaka, Bangladesh, University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), and Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) in a managerial level. Before his death, he served as a University Librarian in the Library and Documentation Office of Islamic University of Technology (IUT) for 17 years.

Publications:

He had a good number of professional and academic publications.

Chowdhury, H.H.; Islam, Mirza Mohd. Rezaul. Information system in meeting disaster in Bangladesh: (in Bengali) Granthagar, (India) May- June 1991. V.4, No. 2 pp.35-41.

Islam, Mirza Mohd. Rezaul. Dissemination of population information in Bangladesh: communication channels. (In Bengali)  Granthagar (India) June-July 1989.pp.65-71.

Islam, Mirza Mohd. Rezaul. Grameen Bank of Bangladesh: A proposal for creating international rural credit information system (IRCIS) for development of socio-economic condition.  (In Bengali) Granthagar, (India) May-June 1994, V.4, No.2 pp. 26-34.

Islam, Mirza Mohd. Rezaul; Khan, Yeasin Comps. Periodicals available in the Central Library of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology Ed. By M. Zahirul Islam. Dhaka: Central Library, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, March 1996.

Islam, Mirza Mohd. Rezaul; Khan, Yeasin Comps. Bibliography of dissertations in the Central Library of the   Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology Ed. By M. Zahirul Islam. Dhaka: Central Library, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, March 1997.

Islam, Mirza Mohd. Rezaul. Population information system for Bangladesh: a proposal. Iaslic Bulletin. 1996; 41(4): 177-184.

Islam, Mirza Mohd. Rezaul. Globalization and libraries: Bangladesh Perspective In: Silver Jubilee Commemorative book: in the stream of light. Dhaka: Community Development Library (CDL), 2004. 392-405.

Social and Professional Activities:

Dr Reza was also engaged with part-time teaching and external examiner including, Dept. of Library and Information Science, University of Dhaka. He was involved with several social volunteering activities including Rotary Public Bangladesh, BALID (Chairmanship in fourth times).

Grant:

He received a number of travel and research grants including a travel grant from the International Association of University Libraries (IATUL ).

Personally, Dr Reza was very much cooperative, courageous, devoted and legend library professional in Bangladesh. Dr Omar Jah, acting vice-chancellor of IUT, a subsidiary organ of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), BALID leaders, professionals of library science and colleagues deeply mourn the untimely death of Dr Mirza.

We all pray for the salvation of the departed soul and seek your forgiveness if any of his words and actions have hurt your feelings in any manner.