M. A. Wazed Miah was a notable Bangladeshi physicist and a prominent figure in the country’s scientific community. He was also the husband of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
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Early Life and Education
Born Md. Abdul Wazed Miah on February 16, 1942, in Fatehpur, Rangpur District, he was the youngest of seven siblings.
He completed his matriculation at Rangpur Zilla School in 1956 and his Intermediate Certificate at Rajshahi College in 1958.
Miah pursued his higher education at the University of Dhaka, earning his Bachelor of Science in Physics in 1961 and Master of Science in 1962.
He furthered his studies at Imperial College London before earning a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Physics from Durham University in 1967.
Career and Achievements
Miah began his career with the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) in 1963, working at the Atomic Energy Research Center in Karachi.
He later served as the chief scientist at the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant. However, his contract was terminated due to security clearance issues, leading to his move to Bangladesh.
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He was involved in research at the Atomic Energy Commission of India from 1975 to 1982. Upon returning to Bangladesh, Miah joined the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and served as its chairman until his retirement in 1999.
Political and Personal Life
Miah married Sheikh Hasina, the eldest daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, on November 17, 1967.
The couple had two children: Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Saima Wazed Putul. Miah was with Hasina in West Germany when her father was assassinated in 1975.
During the political upheaval in Bangladesh, he continued his research work abroad.
Health and Death
Miah faced various health issues, including high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney failure, diabetes, and asthma. He underwent a bypass operation and angioplasty in Singapore before his death on May 9, 2009. He was buried in his native village of Pirganj, Rangpur.
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