Akbar Ali buried at Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals’ Graveyard

Akbar Ali Khan, a former adviser to a caretaker government and economist, was laid to rest at Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals’ Graveyard on Friday afternoon.

Earlier in the day, the namaz-e-janaza of Khan was held at the Gulshan Azad Mosque after Jumah prayers.

Khan passed away while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka Thursday night after a prolonged illness. He was 78.

On receipt of the information, people from different classes and professions expressed shock and deep sorrow at the death and came up with tributes on social media commemorating the past of the country’s top-class bureaucrat.

Khan was born at Nabinagar in Brahmanbaria district in 1944 and he studied history at Dhaka University and secured first place in first class in both BA and MA examinations.

He studied economics at Queen’s University Canada and obtained MA and Ph.D. in economics.

He joined the Civil Service of Pakistan (CSP) in 1967. He actively participated in the Liberation War and was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment in absentia by a military court of the occupation forces.

He joined the provisional government of Bangladesh as deputy secretary, Ministry of Defense.

Khan taught development economics and development administration for three years at the Bangladesh Public Administration Training Center as a member directing staff.

He served with distinction in various ministries. He worked at the Ministry of Finance for more than 16 years at levels of joint secretary and above.

The prominent economist also taught postgraduate courses in governance and development studies departments at Brac University after his retirement.