Passing away of an exemplary diplomat

It is with deep sadness that we bid farewell to former foreign secretary and ambassador Faruq Ahmed Choudhury who breathed his last in the early hours yesterday. While we commiserate with his family, friends, former colleagues and a legion of well-wishers in their grief, we recall with great admiration and respect the significant role Ambassador Chowdhury has played in representing Bangladesh to the world.

Entering the Pakistan foreign office in 1956 he had more than a decade of experience in foreign affairs and diplomatic service before he was made Chief of Protocol of Bangladesh in 1972. As a deputy high commissioner of Bangladesh in the United Kingdom from 1972-76 he was instrumental in the negotiations to get Bangladesh into the Commonwealth.

Erudite and with a charming personality he was an outstanding diplomat serving in several important countries such as the UAE, Bahrain and India. He was the chief coordinator of the 13th OIC Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Dhaka in 1983.

His vast experience in several missions abroad, extensive travel and innate thirst for knowledge made him a distinguished and much admired figure in the foreign ministry where he served, first as additional foreign secretary and then as foreign secretary. His dream of seeing his country reach its potential led to his joining BRAC in different capacities.

What is remarkable about Faruq Chowdhury was that despite debilitating illnesses constantly haunting him, his zest for life never waned. Even after retirement he continued with his passion for writing and travelling, authoring several books and innumerable opinion pieces in newspapers. His patriotism, sharp wit, generous spirit and extraordinary intellect will be cherished and should be a source of inspiration to the younger members of the Foreign Service.