In 2013, IUB named him President Emeritus to recognize his role in higher education development and pioneering the idea of private sector tertiary education in Bangladesh

Dr A Majeed Khan, founder president of Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), died on Wednesday while undergoing treatment at the Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.

His first namaz-e-janaza was held at the IUB campus at 3pm on Thursday, according to a press release issued on Friday. 

IUB trustees, vice chancellor, registrar, deans, staff, faculty members, current and former students attended the janaza prayers. 

The second janaza will be held at the Baridhara Jame Mosque and Islamic Centre on Friday after jumma prayers.

A former cabinet minister of Bangladesh, Dr Majeed also served as the ambassador of Bangladesh to France, Spain and Morocco. 

Born in Faridpur in 1929 and educated in Kolkata, London, and Minnesota, he was the first PhD recipient in sociology and anthropology from Bangladesh. 

He was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society in the US and received the Doctor of Humane Letters from Hamline University, St Paul Minnesota, US. 

He held various positions at Hamline University, Minnesota, US, University of Wisconsin, US, and taught at universities in the Netherlands, Sweden and Jordan. 

Dr Majeed was a member of the executive board and permanent representative to Unesco and was honoured with the Officer of the L'Ordre des Palmes Académiques in France. 

In 2013, IUB named him President Emeritus to recognize his role in higher education development and pioneering the idea of private sector tertiary education in Bangladesh.

Apart from IUB, he played pivotal roles in establishing a number of other organizations including the Education, Science, Technology and Cultural Development Trust (ESTCDT), Chittagong Independent University (CIU), Academy for Rural Development, Comilla, College of Social Work at Rajshahi University, and the University of Information Technology and Sciences (UITS).