Write-up on Prof. M. Anisuzzaman by Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan

1. My Tribute to Professor M. Anisuzzaman
Niaz Ahmed Khan*
Professor M. Anisuzzaman has assumed a stature of an ‘institution’ in the field of Public
Administration in Bangladesh. With my strikingly limited knowledge and exposure, it is indeed
difficult for me to fathom and capture the life and work of Professor Anisuzzaman. I have been
approached by several fellow alumni and friends – notably Messrs. Anwar Uddin, Ali Tarek
Parvez, Abu Syed Khan Dulal and Zahed Hasan Saimon to take on the responsibility of writing
about him. Besides, Professor Anisuzzaman was my teacher and tutorial instructor in several of
our graduate courses. This relationship with him has given me the confidence and obligation to
write a few words on Anis Sir as my teacher.
Professor Anisuzzaman’s basic contribution to the discipline and practice of Public
Administration in this country is twofold - in my view. First, he produced some fundamental
texts on public administration in its ‘Bangladeshi incarnation’: a theoretical analysis of public
administration that is very particular to the context of Bangladesh. Here I recall some of his work
on, for example, ‘the mystics of public administration’ by focusing on the administrative culture
of the Bangladesh civil service, and a thorough analysis of the historical trends and evolution of
public administration in this part of the Indian sub-continent mainly from a ‘administrative
ecology’ perspective. Some of his works notably ‘Public Administration and Society’ (1979) and
‘Bangladesh Public Administration’ (1982, vernacular) – albeit their limitations - represent
pioneering texts on the subject in Bangladesh, and contributed considerably to the growth of this
discipline in the country. Secondly, he was one of the first professors of Public Administration in
Bangladesh to combine academic learning with practicing public management. He translated
some of his learning and theoretical discourses to proactive practice through his role and
association with several government positions – most notably as Member Directing Staff (MDS)
in the Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC).
His career would come out to be chequered, versatile, and impressive – even to a cursory
observer. He secured his MPA from University of Southern California and PhD from the
Syracuse University (USA) both of which are globally reputed seat of learning for public policy
and administration. He founded the Department of Public Administration in the University of
Chittagong, and held the positions of Professor of Political Science and Dean of Social Sciences
in the same University. He regularly attended several high panel government and national
committees, and as noted above, acted as MDS of the country’s premier public service training

2. and capacity development institution – BPATC . He has also consulted for the United Nations
agencies.
Anis Sir was very methodical in his classes: I recall Anis Sir coming to the classes on his ash or
grey coloured ‘safari’ suit on exact time and presenting his lectures in a structured manner - often
following a ‘handbook’ that he used to bring along). I must say, his classes were not always
‘enjoyable’ or ‘easy going’ in the popular sense of the terms. His rather orthodox style of
delivery was difficult for some to come to terms with; but his distinction was clear and
unambiguous: the lectures were full of information and insights, and more importantly, to a
thinking mind, his lectures left many clues for further exploration and inquisition.
I have been his neighbor and fellow devout in the mosque in Uttara (Dhaka) in the recent years
where he led a retired and peaceful life. I used to meet him regularly in the mosque, sometimes
followed him to his residence – situated just off the mosque premises. At a personal level, I had
respect for Anis Sir for one more reason – his simple lifestyle that combined wisdom and
religiosity – a combination rare in today’s society. He was also a modest and introvert person:
never interested in beating his own drum. I am sure, with all our prayers and good wishes for
him, Allah – the Most Gracious and Most Kind will take good care of our respected teacher on
our behalf: keep well Anis Sir, we miss you!
[*Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan is currently Professor and Chairman, Department of Development
Studies, University of Dhaka; and Executive Director, Centre for Resources and Development
Research. Formerly he was Country Representative-Bangladesh, International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Senior Program Coordinator-CHT, UNDP-Bangladesh.]