BRAC’s director Aftab Uddin Ahmad dies of COVID-19

Director of BRAC’s skills development programme brig gen (retd) Aftab Uddin Ahmad died of COVID-19 on Thursday.

He was 72.

Aftab Uddin Ahmad was admitted to hospital with complications in the lungs and had tested positive for COVID-19.

He breathed his last at the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka this afternoon, said a BRAC press release.

Ahmad joined BRAC in October 2019.

Expressing condolences over the death, executive director of BRAC Asif Saleh said, “We are indebted for his guidance and leadership since he joined BRAC. He will be remembered for his unparalleled dedication to his work, and his long-standing commitment to public service in Bangladesh.”

Prior to joining BRAC, he was the chief executive officer of the Centre of Excellence for Bangladesh Apparel Industry (CEBAI) and was instrumental in the growth of the prominent skills development organisation UCEP Bangladesh.

He was a senior consultant at the World Bank since 2014 under the STEP project.

His contribution in the technical and vocational education and training sector will be remembered , says the press release.

He was a key member of the national consultative committee for drafting the national skills development policy in 2011.

Brig gen Aftab Uddin Ahmad (retd) leaves behind a son and daughter, and a host of well-wishers.