Tribute to Dr. Rashid Sarkar

Dr. MA Rashid Sarkar, an educationist and eminent energy expert, passed away on 10 September 2020 at a hospital in Dhaka after his nearly two-month battle with Covid-19 and associated complications at the age of 67 years.  He was the Chairman, Board of Directors, Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority (DWASA). Dr. M A Rashid Sarkar hailed from Mahimaganj, Gaibandha. He completed his SSC in 1969 from Gobindaganj High School, Gaibandha. He studied further in Rajshahi Government College and completed his HSC in 1971. Dr. M A Rashid Sarker secured scholarship for higher education and went to Astrakhan, a Russian city on the river Volga in 1973 for studying Mechanical Engineering. He obtained M. Sc. in Mechanical Engineering in 1979 from the Astrakhan State Technical University and continued his research works there. In 1984, he obtained Ph. D from Leningrad (now, St. Petersburg State Technical University) Polytechnic University, former USSR. 

 

Dr. Rashid joined BUET as a devoted teacher in Mechanical Engineering Department and continued his academic career there for more than 30 years (1985-2016). He served as a professor, Head of the Department of the Mechanical Engineering Department of BUET, Dean Faculty of Mechanical Engineering BUET (2007 -2009) and successfully discharged various academic and administrative responsibilities in BUET. Dr. M A Rashid Sarkar was a very popular teacher among his students for his amiable and helpful personality. He was the founder Director of the Institute of Nuclear Power Engineering of BUET. After retiring from BUET, Dr. Rashid joined Military Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (MIST) as professor in the Department of Nuclear Science & Engineering (NSE) and served there until his last days of life.

 

Dr. M A Rashid’s preferred field of research was Thermal Engineering, Green power & Energy, Safety and Thermal Hydraulics of Nuclear Power Reactor, Nuclear Engineering Education and Personnel Training.

 

He devoted his life in academia and in research. Dr Rashid Sarkar authored 3 books (Cogeneration in Industrial and Commercial Sectors of Bangladesh, ISBN 984-31-0783, Sustainable Development in Bangladesh. 2001, Training Materials on Renewable Energy Education and Application for Rural Communities in Bangladesh, ISBN-984-31-0784-5) and published nearly 200 research articles in various reputed local and international professional journals. He has served as Director, Centre for Energy Studies, BUET (1997 – 2001). He was the Founder Editor, Journal of Energy and Environment, published by Centre for Energy Studies, BUET. Dr. Rashid had major contributions to promotion of nuclear engineering education in Bangladesh. He had significant contribution to development of conventional and renewable energy technologies. 

 

Dr. Rashid believed that Bangladesh needed nuclear energy for securing reliable baseload power supplies at an affordable price. He considered that establishment of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) at Ishwardi, Pabna would help Bangladesh to get affordable electric energy for at least 80 years after its commissioning of the plant targeted in 2024. Rooppur NPP helped Bangladesh to earn respect and dignity in the world arena as the country stepped into the practical use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. 

 

The Russian Federation has been assisting in implementation of the RNPP within the framework and Inter-governmental Agreements between Bangladesh and the Russian Federation. At the same time, the RNPP project implementation enabled local engineers and scientists to equip themselves with most advanced knowledge in science and engineering. The single largest project implementation experience for Bangladeshi engineers and managers in its country’s history helps overcome everyday many administrative, technical and psychological barriers. Dr. Rashid rightly pointed out that the experience earned from the RNPP project implementation would widen the window of learning, practicing and studying the nuclear science for Bangladeshi students, engineers and professionals. While assessing the RNPP as a positive project for the nation, Dr. Rashid did not forget the risk factors involved in developing nuclear power plants. However, he argued that such risks could be eliminated by taking proper safety and physical security measures, which had been adopted in the RNPP project. Further, he pointed out that the technology chosen for the RNPP nuclear reactor was the latest one and proven technology with high level of active and passive safety measures.

 

Dr. Rashid maintained his academic interests on nuclear energy from his university days. During his Ph. D research years in Leningrad, he undertook special comprehensive course on ‘Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics and Two Phase Flow’ offered by Nuclear Engineering Department, Leningrad Polytechnic University in 1981. He further attended course on ‘Boiling heat transfer and safety in nuclear reactor’, at the Moscow power institute in 1982. He made technical visits to Novo-Voronezh Nuclear Power Plant and attended a training program in a full scope NPP Simulator at Novo-Voronezh Nuclear power plant in June 2015, the reference Nuclear reactor technology that Russia has agreed to build at Rooppur, Bangladesh. In addition, Dr. Rashid visited the laboratories at the Atomic Power Station Department in Moscow Power University in 2014. Dr. Rashid was a visiting Fellow of the prestigious Moscow Institute of Physics (MIPHY) which is famous for nuclear science research and Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission has been regularly sending its scientists and engineers for higher study there. In continuation of his interests in nuclear technology, Dr Rashid continued his research in nuclear power plant and its various components. His research included the pressurized vessels, reactor technology assessment and selection of a power reactor for electricity generation in Bangladesh.

 

Dr Rashid felt that the rapid expansion of nuclear technologies and nuclear power engineering in the developing countries including Bangladesh necessitate urgently developing skilled human resource for safe, responsible and sustainable use and secure operations of  nuclear technologies.

 

Dr. Rashid was a good organizer and socially active person. During his student life in Astrakhan, he was an active student leader. He was the President of the Bangladesh Student’s Association in his university. His contemporary students and friends from Bangladesh who studied in Astrakhan and in USSR fondly recalls Dr. Rashid’s smiling face and eagerness to help the fellow students. He maintained regular and good relations with Bangladeshi students’ community in Moscow and Leningrad. He had the rare quality to keep smiling whatever the difficult environment of works it could be. Those who studied together with him and worked with him in later parts of his life recall that Dr Rashid always kept smiling even if he disagreed with someone on certain issues. 

 

Dr. Rashid Sarkar had a diverse and active professional affiliation with prestigious local and international organizations. He was a life Fellow of the Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh, Fellow of Bangladesh Computer Society, Fellow of NOAMI, Bangladesh, Member Bangladesh Physical Society, Member International Energy Association, Member, Commission for Education and Communication IUCN, Member World Council on Renewable Energy. He was a Vice President of Bangladesh Solar Energy Society. Dr Rashid was an active Vice President of the Soviet Alumni Association, Bangladesh.

 

He will always be remembered for his contribution in advancing education, research in energy sector development, advancing knowledge in nuclear energy development in Bangladesh.

 

Mushfiqur Rahman;

Mining Engineer,

Writes on Energy and Environment Issues