It is with the saddest regret that we announce the death of Mr Mohammed Ashraf Alam, a great Rohingya patriot and researcher, on February 15, 2021 at 9:00 AM in a hospital at Chittagong, Bangladesh. His Janaza (funeral) prayer was held after Asr prayer today where many people attended despite the COVID-19 situation. His family members have requested all for prayer.
Mr Mohammed Ashraf Alam was born on 10 January 1948 in a respectable family at Kalizabangah village in Maungdaw township of Arakan. He died at the age of 73 and is survived by his wife, two sons and three daughters.
Mr Mohammed Ashraf Alam graduated from the Rangoon Arts & Science University (RASU) in 1970. Immediately after his graduation, he had joined the Rohingya movement and dedicated his whole life for the cause of the Rohingya people giving remarkable contributions in various capacities.
He served as the Director of Research, Bangladesh Institute of Arakan Studies, Chittagong; Secretary of the Research and Publication Department, Arakan Historical Society (AHS), Chittagong. He also served as the Head of Research at Rohingya Khobor. In addition, he was a well-known Senior Member of the Arakan Rohingya National Organisation (ARNO).
He was well connected with many writers, scholarly people and institutions and selflessly helped them with valuable information and suggestions in their works on Rohingya and Arakan. Some major results of his contributions were, “The Rohingyas, A Short Account of their History and Culture” by Dr Abdul Karim and “The Rohingyas of Arakan: History and Heritage” edited by Dr Mohammad Mohibullah Siddiquee.
Mr Ashraf Alam’s “A short history of Arakan and Rohingyas” is an indispensable research work and reference for those who are interested in the Rohingya historicity.
May Allah (SWT) grant him Jannaat-e-Ferodus.