A Life of Principle and Scholarship

Dr M Akhlakur Rahman was a distinguished Bangladeshi economist, educator, and humanitarian whose life left a lasting imprint on the fields of economic thought, education, and social service. Widely respected for his intellectual rigour and moral conviction, he embodied a rare blend of scholarship and principled activism.

Born on 6 December 1925 in the village of Teghoria in Sunamganj, he was the eldest of seven siblings. His early exposure to learning began unusually young—at the age of three—under the guidance of his father in a traditional village school. He later progressed through schools in Balaganj and Habiganj, completing his intermediate studies at M C College, Sylhet.

Demonstrating exceptional academic promise, he went on to Aligarh Muslim University, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in 1947. He subsequently completed a Master’s degree in Economics at the University of Dhaka and joined the same department as a lecturer, marking the beginning of his academic career.

His intellectual curiosity soon took him abroad. He served as a research assistant at the University of Manchester, Victoria University, and later taught at the University of Peshawar, where he also contributed to the editorial board of the Pakistan Economic Journal. He later worked as a senior economist at the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics in Karachi. In 1962, he achieved a significant academic milestone by obtaining a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA.

Upon returning to the subcontinent, Dr Rahman engaged extensively in national and international economic policy and development work. His contributions earned him lifelong honorary recognition from the Bangladesh Economic Association.

Beyond academia, he played an active role in progressive politics from his student years and participated in the Language Movement, advocating strongly for the recognition of Bengali as a state language. During the Liberation War of 1971, while in Pakistan, he organised financial support for stranded Bengalis—an act reflecting both courage and profound patriotism.

A committed socialist in ideology, he remained steadfast in his principles despite political pressure, imprisonment, and professional challenges. His humanitarian spirit was evident from a young age when he assisted victims of a malaria outbreak in Baniachang, even while being personally affected by the disease.

In his later years, he developed a deep interest in spirituality and meditation, influenced by Syed A. Bukhari from 1974 onwards, and played a key role in establishing a yoga meditation centre in 1983.

Dr M Akhlakur Rahman passed away on 4 May 1992, leaving behind a legacy of knowledge, integrity, and compassion.

Key Milestones in His Life

Dr Rahman’s life remains a powerful reminder that intellectual excellence, ethical commitment, and human compassion together define true greatness.