Dhaka, 2 June 2026: The Department of Geology at the University of Dhaka has established the “Mir Moinul Huq and John Talent Memorial Endowment Fund” through a generous contribution of BDT one crore donated by Dr. Mobinul Huq, faculty member of the Department of Economics at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, and former faculty member of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka.
The endowment has been created in memory of Dr. Huq’s late elder brother, Mir Moinul Huq, a distinguished Bangladeshi geologist, and his late M.S. supervisor, Professor John Alfred Talent of Australia, former UNESCO Professor of Geology. The initiative seeks to preserve their academic legacy while advancing geological education and research in Bangladesh.
The inaugural ceremony and signing of the Endowment Fund agreement took place on 2 June 2026 at the Professor M. A. Latif Auditorium of the Department of Geology, University of Dhaka. The event was jointly organized by the Department of Geology and the Dhaka University Geological Alumni Association (DUGAA).
Professor Dr. Abdus Salam, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) of the University of Dhaka, attended the ceremony as the Chief Guest, while Professor Dr. Md. Humayun Kabir, Dean of the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, was present as the Special Guest.
The program was chaired by Professor Md. Bodruddoza Mia, Chairman of the Department of Geology. Faculty members, alumni, researchers, students, and distinguished guests participated in the event. Fifteen members of the family of the late Mir Moinul Huq were also present, including his younger brothers, Dr. Mobinul Huq and Mofidul Huq, as well as his elder daughter, Ms. Mahin Tabassum.
Representatives from the Department of Geology, DUGAA, and members of the Mir Moinul Huq Memorial Group, including Md. Jasim Uddin, Md. Monwar Ahmed, and Mortuza Ahmad Faruque, attended the ceremony. Mollah Amzad Hossain, Editor of Energy and Power Magazine, was also present as a distinguished guest.
The Endowment Fund has been established to promote academic excellence and advanced research in the fields of geology and petroleum geoscience. Beyond providing scholarships and fellowships to graduate students, the fund will support field investigations, seminars, conferences, academic publications, and the development of modern research infrastructure. The initiative is expected to significantly strengthen the academic and research capacity of the Department of Geology and contribute to the development of future generations of geoscientists in Bangladesh.
According to the approved framework of the fund, 30 percent of the endowment will be allocated to establish the “Moinul–Talent Graduate Research Laboratory” in Room 408 of the Department of Geology. The remaining 70 percent will be invested in fixed deposits with a state-owned bank, and the income generated from the investment will be used to finance scholarships, fellowships, and fieldwork support for PhD, MPhil, and MS students.
The establishment of the “Mir Moinul Huq and John Talent Memorial Endowment Fund” represents a landmark contribution to geological education and research in Bangladesh. It serves as a lasting tribute to two eminent scholars whose dedication to geoscience continues to inspire students, researchers, and professionals alike.
