S M Al-Husainy founder trustee of Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) passed away on May 28, 2025, at the age of 94. He breathed his last while undergoing treatment at the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute in Mirpur, Dhaka.
Born in 1930, Al-Husainy was a visionary leader whose contributions were instrumental in shaping higher education in Bangladesh. As a key member of the Education, Science, Technology and Cultural Development Trust (ESTCDT), he played a central role in the establishment of IUB. He served as Chairman of the university’s former governing council and later as a member of its board of trustees. He also held the position of Chairman of the board of trustees at Chittagong Independent University (CIU).
Al-Husainy’s distinguished career in public service included serving as secretary to the government in several ministries, a member of the Planning Commission and chairman of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission. His contributions to national development spanned decades and disciplines.
He also held prominent leadership roles in a number of national organizations. He was chairman of Micro Industries Development Assistance and Services (MIDAS), chairman of Swanirvar Bangladesh and director of Micro Industries Finance Ltd. Additionally, he served as Chairman of the Bangladesh Chapter of the Society for International Development (SID), Vice President of the National Heart Foundation and a Member of the Executive Committee of Dhaka Ahsania Mission.
A committed advocate for policy dialogue and professional excellence, Al-Husainy was a Fellow of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and a former President of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB), where he served for three years.
IUB community – including members of the board of trust, ESTCDT, faculty, administration, students and alumni – mourns the loss of a revered mentor and extends its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. We pray for the eternal peace of his departed soul.