Breaking the barriers of bureaucracy, a man came out as a smart administrator and mesmerized the bureaucratic sphere, 42 years back. This he, who introduced the use of computers, faxes, mobile phones in administrative works by incorporating the knowledge and technology of the East and the West; Inventory automation, GIS, MIS, computer billing were introduced by him. He also proved his excellence in performance by demonstrating the use of rubber dams in water management technology to address the challenges of flood and drought in arable land; took a leading part in the development of rural roads and construction of modern complexes in each upazila to transform villages into centers of development.
Not only as a valiant freedom fighter in the great liberation war, Quamrul Islam Siddique is also being followed as a hero as a skilled administrator in the Smart Sonar Bangla composition of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the nation. 20th January is his 79th birthday. He was born in Kushtia, in the home of an agricultural thinker late Nurul Islam Siddique and precious mother Begum Hamida Siddique couple in 1945. Using the knowledge of the engineering profession, at the beginning of the liberation war, on April 30, 1971, he rushed to the battlefield to free the Kushtia-Pabna region from the Indian ‘Betai’ youth camp. After the war of liberation, he also appeared as a pioneer in the war of building the country. He has acted as a catalyst in increasing production in agriculture and non-agriculture sector through development and management of local infrastructure, creation of employment, development of socio-economic conditions, promotion of management system of local government institutions and poverty alleviation at the local levels.
The Engineering Cell which was formed in 1970s under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives was transformed into the ‘Works Program Wing’ under the Development Budget in 1982 and the Works Program Wing under the Revenue Budget in October 1984 came out as the Local Government Engineering Bureau (LGEB). Following the reformation, LGEB was promoted as Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) in August 1992.
Within a short period of time, he won appreciation at home and abroad by implementing various visionary initiatives. This smart administrator was awarded the ‘Magic Boy’ recognition from the World Bank for his efforts in local government engineering. He has also won dozens of gold medals in the country. Even before his death, he sent a mail to Jamilur Reza Coudhury, another talented engineer, about the engineering design of underground roads in the country. However, the country’s highest honor has not yet been associated with the name of this legendary figure of the soil.
Not only in the rural development projects; His name is associated in all plans from subway to Hatirjheel. He was truly a visionary technocrat.
Md. Shahidul Hasan, retired former Chief Engineer of LGED, who worked with Quamrul Islam Siddique for a long time, terms that his contribution in the government sector behind Digital Bangladesh is undeniable. The reflection of his work in the continuity of the current government is obvious. Therefore, it is a national failure not to give a national honor to this meritorious warrior apart giving a guard of honor as a freedom fighter after his death. We should award him the Swadhinota Padak without further delay.
Sakir Ahmed, senior GIS developer of the South Florida Water Management District of the United States, said that all his initiatives were smart. We learned from him about ‘priority’ in ‘every day management’ and not chore. He was legendary for providing overseas training, job guidelines, immediate job input to employees for skill development. We have noticed the vision of Siddique sir; he has done all the work keeping development in mind. It is questionable how much he is followed in LGED at present. At the same time, I don’t understand why he has not yet awarded the national award-Swadhinota Padak. While talking to his teammates, he brought the first 2 IBM mainframe computer PCs to Bangladesh in 1982 and started using them in LGED. Inspired by that computer, the then President Hussain Muhammad Ershad also became interested in the use of computers in government work. In 1988, this ‘big sir’ started digital mapping of hard copy maps of land Mauza. In 1994, Quamrul Islam Siddique created the company’s own website in addition to internet and e-mail. He started the digital billing system from Khulna while serving as PDB chairman. In 1997-98, he applied his engineering knowledge to the Census with the Bureau of Statistics. Today every government department is working on the basis of the mapping done in joint venture with DLRS. At that time, he inaugurated the Global Information System (GIS) unit at LGED and was impressed by the proposed Union Parishad complex plan and added engineer Sajib Wazed Joy to the digital service center plan there.
He also developed custom mapping software using GIS for Bangladesh Police Department 25 years back in 1999. Under his able management, PDB found new light, under his epoch-making activities the Ministry of Works woke up with the dawn of new dreams; Finally, he started thinking anew about the activities of the Privatization Commission. This is how Quamrul Islam Siddique has inspired his colleagues forever to break the traditional taboo of government officials, teach others to work and train and innovate.
As said by the only Nobel Laureate in Bangla Literature Rabindranath Tagore – “People build in need, create in joy, show intelligence in knowledge, show ability in achievement, show themselves in creation”. Quamrul Islam Siddique was the reflection of this quotation.
On September 1, 2008, this bright star-like development personality breathed his last at the residence of his only son Saiful Islam Siddique in the USA.
Imdadul Haque: Executive Editor, DigiBanglatech.News