Dr A M M Khan

To me he was an elder friend who would give me wise counsel and friendly suggestions on almost all matters. More than that, he would be my constant companion, going together to visit friends (common or uncommon), to the Dhaka Club and even to the shops and restaurants. He visited me and stayed with me in Rawalpindi and Washington many times. Once I took him to Manshera and Abbottabad by car. He was always an enjoyable company. My entire family knew him well and in fact, he became a family member, sharing our enjoyments as well as our sorrows.

He had a deep interest in the country's politics, though he never indulged in it. A joke in chacha's circle of admirers was his oft quoted remark one late night in our common Brixton Lane (London) house in 1955 "tomra amare montri koro na". I believe chacha meant it and most probably passed a chance or two to become a minister. Such was his disdain for some of our politicians who go to power or cling to it only for their self-interest. Another funny story was about the competition amongst us to get his permission to write his 'autobiography'. We used to tease him constantly but he gave us indulgence and never once took any offence. He was about nine years older than most of us -- yet he was not only our chacha, he was often our best friend and well-wisher.

Dr. Khan did his Ph.D from the renowned London School of Pharmacy in 1956 and joined an international pharmaceutical company. In the early sixties, he became the founder/ technical director and later partner of the Pharmapak in East Pakistan (later Pharmadesh in Bangladesh). Later he started and ran with the assistance of his children and sons- in- law many enterprises including garments, battery, electric metres etc. He was successful in most of these efforts. He held offices in many of these industry associations and would go as far as Rawalpindi to lobby for their cause.

Dr. Khan was a dedicated social worker. He was associated with and held offices in the Rotary Club, Heart Foundation, Bangladesh Medical Hospital, Daibetic Association, Cancer association and a host of other social service organisations. He made me a life member of one of these. In his own area in Testuri Bazar, he was known as a self-less community leader and highly respected. For all these causes, he would spend his time and energy to get things done whether it was in the government ministries or any other office.

Chacha was a straightforward and honest man. Even though highly accomplished and successful, he remained ever so humble and modest.

Dr. Khan remained throughout in his Testuri Bazar house near the farm gate. His family would often urge him to move to better quarters in Banani or Gulshan (places actually within his reach). They said that they started life in farmgate without any change, whereas one of their friends had meanwhile moved to the Washington Watergate. Dr. Khan would always decline to do so by pointing out "I do not have to join that race".

Two days before his massive stroke, he called me from Dhaka to enquire about my upcoming Dhaka visit starting from December 1 and to invite me to his granddaughter's engagement party on December 23. He also promised to visit me in Washington in May 2005 when he planned to attend his granddaughter's graduation in Boston. Alas, these ceremonies would be deprived of the attendance of such a wonderful and loving soul. As for me, I would be miserable without chacha's warm and affectionate company in Dhaka.