He took active part in the war of liberation at the call of Bangabandhu. He walked the path of the father of the nation in building the country with engineering knowledge. Took bold steps to build roads to connect villages with towns by utilizing the best of his knowledge acquired from the United States. He has initiated to collect the necessary funds to build a golden Bangladesh by drawing the attention of the donors. Invented own solutions by blending local and modern technology.
But today he is quite an unknown person to the new generation. However, netizens know about Quamrul Islam Siddique by searching in internet. Although he is remembered to a limited extent, he is known as a ‘Kalpurush’ to the learned persons who know him closely.
Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Tajul Islam said that Bangabandhu firmly believed that without the development of villages, Bangladesh would not develop. People like Quamrul Islam Siddique have worked to put this belief to use. Quamrul Islam Siddique has taken LGED to a very prestigious position.
Abdur Rashid Khan, chief engineer of LGED, said that the stage at which he sees LGED today is a form of the dream he sowed. I’m not saying that it has become a giant tree yet, but LGED has become a fruitful tree now.
He did not stop at just establishing LGED in rural infrastructure development, he established LGED as a shield for national development. He used to supervise the project all the time besides attracting foreign investment in any project.
Former Governor of Bangladesh Bank Atiur Rahman and local government expert Tofail Ahmed highlighted his contribution in this regard.
He was praised for his wisdom and deeds from Bangabandhu’s daughter. Even the dictator Ershad was fascinated by his actions.
Shahidul Hasan, a former chief engineer of LGED, said that when he brought the first Macintosh computer to LGEB in Lalmatia, then President Ershad sent an army officer to look into it and advised him to install it in his office as well.
There is a demand in all quarters to establish the visionary Quamrul Islam Siddique as a role model to the young generations so that he is not lost in the course of time.
Eminent urban planner Iqbal Habib said, “I don’t consider him merely as a model for rural infrastructure or development of rural-Bangladesh, rather I consider him as one of the foremost engineers among the engineers who can lead the country towards a balanced development and build a beautiful livable Bangladesh with the inclusion of all.”
LGED Assistant Engineer Aliuzzaman Bappi also thinks it is time to set a good example to the new generation by awarding him state honors.
Engineer Quamrul Islam Siddique was born on 20 January 1945 in Kushtia district. After secondary and higher secondary, he studied Civil Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). Then he started his career in engineering profession. When the liberation war started in 1971, he took up arms leaving the dream of his lucrative career. After struggling in the liberation war and winning the bloody war after nine months, he started the struggle to build the country anew. And he did so till his death. He did everything possible from his part for the country. Now it is our turn to show him the due respect and recognition he deserves.