M Matiul Islam, the country's first finance secretary and a pioneering figure in the financial and banking sector, passed away early Thursday at the age of 95.
His namaz-e-janaza will be held at Azad Mosque in Gulshan after Jumma prayers today (Friday), his family said.
Born on January 24, 1930 in Gerakhola village of Gopalganj, Mr Islam started off his career in the Pakistan Civil Service in 1952.
After Bangladesh's independence, he was appointed the country's first finance secretary in 1972, taking on the formidable task of rebuilding a devastated financial and banking system.
He worked closely with Tajuddin Ahmad, the nation's first finance and planning minister, during this reconstruction period.
Mr Islam later represented Bangladesh on the global stage, serving as the country's representative to the World Bank for eight years and to the United Nations for 11 years. Over the course of his distinguished career, he also held roles with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).
Considered one of the most innovative minds in Bangladesh's economic landscape, Mr Islam played a foundational role in developing the private financial sector.
He was the founding chairman of AB Bank Limited, the country's first private bank, and established several key financial institutions, including International Leasing and Financial Services (ILFSL), National Housing Finance and Investment (NHFIL), and the Industrial and Infrastructure Development Finance Company (IIDFC). He also played a key role in establishing the Credit Rating Agency of Bangladesh.
Tributes poured in following the announcement of his death. Former banker and economic analyst Mamun Rashid described him as a devoted economist, administrator, writer, and entrepreneur whose contributions left a lasting imprint on Bangladesh's financial community.
Islam's legacy spans public administration, international diplomacy, and private-sector leadership, marking him as one of the most influential architects of Bangladesh's modern financial system.
bdsmile@gmail.com
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