Speakers at a webinar on Monday remembered Akbar Ali Khan with much respect, noting that the late economist established himself as a model of honesty and was a source of inspiration for his ability to take quick and judicious decision.

Paying deep respect to Khan, a former advisor to the caretaker government, the speakers said the renowned bureaucrat had always been bold in his decision and he loved to talk straightforward without hurting anyone.

They said Akbar Ali Khan had taught that bureaucrats need to study a lot instead of only saying “yes and no.”

South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG) of North South University (NSU), Dhaka hosted the webinar titled "Akbar Ali Khan: Contribution to Bangladesh State and Society."

The webinar was a joint initiative of SIPG and the South Asian Network for Public Administration (SANPA).

Khan was one of the most influential academic researchers, active and objective public intellectual and renowned bureaucrat- reaching the position of Cabinet Secretary.

He successfully combined multiple roles in his career- academia, research, and national and international bureaucracies.

His friends and well-wishers also shared their personal experiences with Akbar Ali Khan and said general bureaucrats have many things to learn from him.

His death last month created a collective intellectual void, they said.

The discussants said people need to understand Khan’s intellectual capacity who kept inspiring the young people. 

Former Cabinet Secretary Muhammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, former adviser Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, former Secretary, Economic Relations Division Md. Aminul Islam Bhuiyan, former Finance Secretary Mohammad Tareque and Distinguished Fellow of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, among others, spoke at the webinar moderated by advisor of South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG), NSU Professor Salahuddin M Aminuzzaman.