Eminent academic Zillur Rahman Siddiqui passed away in the early hours of Wednesday at the emergency ward at the capital’s Shamorita Hospital.
Doctor said he was brought to the hospital dead, probably he died on the way. He was 85
Born at Durgapur in Jhenaidah in 1928, he matriculated from Jessore Zilla School in 1945 with distinction. Afterwards, he studied at Presidency College in Kolkata.He obtained his BA in 1950 and MA degrees in 1951 in English Literature with First Class in both from the University of Dhaka.
He studied English Literature at Worcester College of Oxford University during 1952-54.
Prof. Siddiqui served the Dhaka College and then at the University of Rajshahi from 1988 to mid-1973.
Thereafter, he was teacher at Jahangirnagar University and was Vice Chancellor of the University for two consecutive terms from 1976 to 1984.
Professor Zillur Rahman Siddiqui served as an Advisor to the caretaker government under Justice Shabuddin Ahmed in 1990-91, and looked after the Ministry of Education.
He authored many books in Bangla and English and was the Editor of Bangla Academy English-Bengali Dictionary.
He was honored with Alaol Shahitya Purashkar in 1977, Bangla Academy Award in 1979, Alokito Shahitya Purashkar in 1998 and Swadhinata Purashkar in 2010.
