Khaleda Ekram

Ekram was awarded 2023 Begum Rokeya Padak posthumously for her contribution to women's education

• Name — Khaleda Ekram • Born — 6 August 1950 • Birthplace — Dhaka, East Bengal, Dominion of Pakistan • Died — 24 May 2016 • Place of death — Bangkok, Thailand • Resting Place — Banani Graveyard, Dhaka, Bangladesh • Education — MURP • Alma Mater — * Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology • University of Hawaii • Lund University • Occupation — Academic • Office — 12th Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology • Term Start — 14 September 2014 • Term End — 24 May 2016 • Predecessor — S. M. Nazrul Islam • Successor — Saiful Islam • Awards — See full list

Ekram was born on 6 August 1950, in Dhaka, to Ekram Hussain and Qamrunnessa Hussain. She had three sisters, Kamela Akhter Ishaque, Morsheda Karim, and Masuda Ahmed. Ekram received her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology in 1974. Her final year thesis project was titled "Tourist Resort at Cox's Bazaar, Chittagong". She pursued higher education in urban planning and design in the United States, where she earned her graduate degree (MURP) from the University of Hawaii in 1980. Her thesis title was "Revitalization of Residential Areas of Old Dhaka". In 1992, she completed post-graduate courses in architecture and development at Lund University in Sweden.

Ekram began her career in 1974 as a junior architect at Bastukalabid Limited in Dhaka. She also worked for Parikalpak Sangstha Limited, for a brief period in 1975. In the same year, she began her four-decade-long teaching career with the Department of Architecture of BUET. She first joined as a lecturer and then became assistant professor in 1977. Her areas of interest included housing, community development, urban design, urban planning and gender issues. After graduating from the University of Hawaii in Urban and Regional Planning, she worked as assistant architect planner at Honolulu-based Michael T. Suzuki & Associates, from December 1980 to May 1981. She also worked at East West Center and contributed to community service projects in Honolulu. Upon coming back to Bangladesh, she resumed her assistant professor role in BUET and became associate professor in 1986 and professor in 1995. She went on to become the head of the department in 1997 and the dean of the faculty of architecture and planning in 1999. On 11 September 2014, the Education Ministry of Bangladesh appointed Ekram as the first female vice-chancellor of BUET. She was also the second female to hold the position of VC in the history of the nation. However, only two days after her appointment, Teachers' Association of BUET raised their opposition against the new VC, alleging that seniority has been violated in her appointment. They argued that BUET VCs were appointed based on their seniority and Khaleda Ekram was the 26th senior-most professor in BUET and hence was not eligible for the post. Eventually, the controversy died down and Ekram was able to serve 20 months out of her 4-year term until she became seriously ill in 2016. Within this short period of time, she proved her administrative skills and was credited with bringing back the academic discipline by reducing 'session jam' of BUET. She also patronized and facilitated many extra-curricular activities for the students in an attempt to improve their college experience.

Ekram was married to Architect Haroon ur Rashid. Together they had two daughters, Mariam Ali, an environmentalist, Mashida Rashid, a public health specialist, and a son, Khaled Yasin Rashid, also an environmentalist. On 11 May 2016, Ekram was admitted to Square Hospital in Dhaka after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin Lymphoma disease. When her condition deteriorated, she was flown to Bangkok on 14 May. She died at the hospital 10 days later. She was buried in her mother's grave at the Banani Graveyard in Dhaka.