PIRGANJ, Rangpur, Feb 15, 2024 (BSS) - The 82nd birth anniversary of nuclear scientist of international repute and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's husband late Dr M A Wazed Miah will be observed in a befitting manner in the district tomorrow.
 
On this day in 1942, the nuclear scientist, affectionately called as 'Sudha Miah', was born in a respectable Muslim family of Laldighee Fatehpur village in Pirganj upazila of Rangpur.
 
Dr Wazed breathed his last in Dhaka on May 9, 2009 at the age of 67 and was buried at their family graveyard in his native village Laldighee Fatehpur at Pirganj upazila as per his last desire.

The district and Pirganj upazila civil and police administrations, district and Pirganj upazila units of Awami League (AL), Dr. Wazed Miah Foundation, family of Dr. Wazed, Begum Rokeya University, Dr. Wazed Smriti Sangshad (DWSS) and other organisations have chalked out programmes to celebrate the birth anniversary of Dr Wazed.
 
The programs include placing of wreaths at the grave of Dr. Wazed in village Laldighee Fatehpur, offering Fateha, milad mahfils and special munajats, distribution of foods among the poor and distressed people and memorial discussions.

Under the initiative of the Deputy Commissioner, Gopinathpur Hafizia Madrasah O Etimkhana will offer Quran Khatam and provide improved diet to its students.

Upazila administration will hold a discussion at upazila parishad auditorium marking the birth anniversary of Dr Wazed.

Pirganj Constituency Lawmaker and Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury will join it.

Nephew of Dr Wazed, General Secretary of Pirganj upazila Awami League (AL) and Pirganj municipal Mayor Tazimul Islam Shamim said the birth anniversary celebration will begin with placing of wreaths at the grave of Dr Wazed in the morning.

Special munajat will be offered at 'Joysadan' in Laldighee Fatehpur village marking the birth anniversary of the nuclear scientist. 
 

Later, foods will be distributed among the poor, distressed and physically challenged people on Joysadan premises.

Milad and doa mahfils will be arranged and special munajats be offered at different mosques in Rangpur city seeking eternal peace of the departed soul of Dr Wazed and well-being of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Saima Wazed Putul and their other family members.
 
Discussions on the life and work of nuclear scientist Dr Wazed will be arranged in Rangpur city. 

Besides, Dr. Wazed Foundation, Begum Rokeya University, district and Pirganj upazila units of AL and its associate bodies and family of Dr. Wazed will celebrate the 82nd birth anniversary of the nuclear scientist in a befitting manner. 

Dr. Wazed was the youngest among four sons and three daughters of his late father Abdul Quader Miah and late mother Moyzunnesa.
 
He studied up to class four at the primary school at his native village and then up to class six at a high school in Pirganj town.
 
He passed matriculation from Rangpur Zilla School in 1956 in first division with distinctions and then enrolled in Rajshahi Government College from where he passed the Higher Secondary Certificate Examinations brilliantly.
 
Wazed Miah was admitted to the Department of Physics at Dhaka University in 1958 and secured first class in both B.Sc. (honors) and M.Sc. examinations in 1961 and 1962 respectively.
 
He joined the then Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission on April 9, 1963 and obtained his diploma from Imperial College of London after completing the 'Diploma of Imperial College Course' in 1963-1964.
 
Wazed Miah returned home in September, 1967 after obtaining his Ph.D. degree in physics from Durham University in the United Kingdom and joined as a Scientific Officer at the Atomic Energy Research Centre in Dhaka.
 
In 1969, Dr. Wazed got the associate-ship of Italy-based International Theoretical Physics Research Centre of Nobel Laureate Professor Dr. Salam where he was engaged in a research project.
 
Later, he was involved in post-doctoral research on nuclear science from November, 1969 to October, 1970 at Daresbury Laboratory in Washington DC of the USA.
 
After returning home, he resumed work at the Atomic Energy Research Centre.
 
Wazed Miah married Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, on November 17, 1967. They were blessed with a son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and a daughter, Saima Wazed Putul.
 
In 1975, he was in the then West Germany to pursue higher training on atomic reactor science. Sheikh Hasina was also with him at that time.
 

Dr. Wazed also conducted research at the New Delhi-based laboratory of Indian Atomic Energy Commission from 1975 to 1982.
 
On return home, the nuclear scientist rejoined the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and retired as its chairman in 1999.
 
Apart from his publications on scientific research and nuclear science, Dr. Wazed also authored a number of books on social and political issues, including one on the memories of Bangabandhu.
 
Dr. Wazed was a greedless and honest man, who always maintained a low profile in personal life and led a very simple life. He was a cordial person but never compromised with anything unjust.