Lest we forget Aminul Alam

Lest we forget Aminul Alam, Executive Director- BRAC International

Our dear Amin Bhai , the Executive Director of BRAC International, passed away on October 02, 2010 ending his eventful life which was dedicated to the welfare and service of the toiling masses and the down trodden . The BRAC family members, well wishers and beneficiaries of BRAC received the news of his sad demise with extremely heavy heart. Aminul Alam was a potential, brave, confident and gigantic personality who gave the dream of Sir Fazle Hasan Abed’s hope to make a hunger free country into reality . BRAC has imprinted its footprint across Bangladesh and beyond. The remotest part of the country where electricity is a rare phenomenon and modern communication is far remote has been touched by BRAC. Presently ten countries in the world proclaim their recognition practically in the poverty alleviation procession of BRAC reaching the hard core poor community who experienced life just as a vacuum of frustration. BRAC poverty alleviation model and BRAC Primary School model have been replicated in various countries in African countries in particular all over the globe in general.

Amin Bhai, was bold and quick enough to take any decision which contributed a great deal to the fast expansion of BRAC both at home and abroad. He introduced just the reverse learning of slow pace of official work without any paper documentation. He used to hold everything in his brain just like a computer. Paper work was hardly available with him. He could remember thousands of BRAC staff by name. One cannot but get astonished to see his sharp memory. This god gifted treasure he sacrificed for the poor whose cry hardly reach the metropolitan snobs. Yes, he really has taken a permanent position in the heart of these ever neglected populace. I could not control my tears when I found the poor women was continuously shedding tears learning and witnessing his dead body.During the flood BRAC people spent sleepless night under his guidance. When some young people made a little bit delay in performing their duties he just cried ‘How do you mange to wear ironed shirt when the affected people are striving to survive, when their cattle heads are being washed away by flood? Work for them and with them if you are really BRAC staff.”

From a small seed to the present gigantic body of BRAC is greatly indebted to his untiring and ceaseless effort and uncompromising attitude towards the staff. He believed in ‘ Work is life’ he started his career as a Program Organizer working far from the madding crowd and living with the poor ,helpless and landless which taught him how to love the poor, how to stand beside them and how to win their heart. This learning and experience contributed to raise him to the envious position of Executive Director, BRAC International. Unthinkable rise indeed! Who saw him and worked with him in the field could not make their eyes believe how potential, active, energetic, brave and quick decision maker a person was Mr. Aminul Alam! Tremendous mental strength helped him win the insurmountable odds.


Still I remember how long time he spent in the Viva-Voce examination when he was selecting me for BRAC Education Programme. He asked me “How much actually do you earn now.’ Listening to my answer he told me ‘We cannot offer you so much money now. He also told me that English teachers are scarce in the city of Dhaka. You are an English teacher, definitely your earning is very handsome but BRAC will offer you a minimum salary. I don’t know whether it would satisfy you. Learning my writing potential he just uttered, “You would be a suitable person to develop our education materials.”


Actually he left no branch of BRAC untouched. Everywhere his footprint and constant physical and mental presence made everybody always ready and active. Usually, people kept themselves busy and limited within their particular world of work and hardly bother about other phenomena. But Amin Bhia used to roam about each and every corner of BRAC efforts and as an upshot of it, BRAC now enjoys international status and earned world recognition as the resort to alleviating poverty, offering health service to the outreach and quality education for the vast number of children who remained away from the formal way of learning and ensuring quality education in the secondary and tertiary levels. He took keen interest everywhere and every corner to prove his utmost dedication to the organization.

He has suddenly jumped into his eternal journey making us followers. As we are also rushing towards that path, we pray to Almighty Who knows better and Whose everything seems extremely mysterious to us is earnestly requested to rest him peace in heaven which is the ultimate goal of all. Amin Bhai rest in peace ,you did not make time to rest here. Now sleep. All the family members of BRAC pray for you. Abed Bhai has greatly shocked as you stood beside him just like a strong pillar. Really you were the Field Marshall of BRAC as Mary Chen, Lecturer in Public Policy, Harvard University has said. You are a legend of BRAC.


Md. Masum Billah
Programme Manager: BRAC Education Programme, PACE
Cell: 01714-091431
Email: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com