DU prof dies of heart attack at China airport on way home

Professor Dr Mohammad Jahangir Alam of the Department of World Religions and Culture at the University of Dhaka (DU) has died of a heart attack at Kunming Airport in China while returning home after attending an international conference. He was 48.

According to a press release issued by Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, Acting Director of DU's Public Relations Office, Professor Jahangir Alam suffered a heart attack at the airport on Wednesday (July 23) while on his way back to Bangladesh and passed away the same day.

Professor Dr Abu Sayem, Chairman of the Department of World Religions and Culture, said that Jahangir Alam suddenly fell ill while waiting at the immigration area of the airport on Wednesday afternoon (local time). He was immediately taken by ambulance to Yan’an Hospital in China, where doctors declared him dead following an initial examination and confirmed the cause of death as a heart attack.

Jahangir Alam had traveled to South Korea on July 17 to attend the 7th Annual Conference of the Deshun Academy of Sciences (DAOS), at their invitation.

Acting Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of the University of Dhaka, Professor Dr Saima Haque Bidisha, expressed deep sorrow over his sudden demise.

In a condolence message, she said: “Professor Jahangir Alam was a humble, courteous, and kind person. With his death, the nation has lost a dedicated teacher and researcher.”

She prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed her deepest condolences to the bereaved family.