ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad College for Boys (ICB) G-6/3 on Wednesday paid rich tribute to its distinguished alumnus, late ambassador M. Mijarul Quayes from Bangladesh.

The ICB College, one of the capital’s oldest and most esteemed educational institutions, commemorated late Ambassador M. Mijarul Quayes (1960–2017), a prominent Bangladeshi diplomat and statesman.

Mrs Quayes, who travelled from Bangladesh to attend the commemoration, was the chief guest of the event. In a moving address, she shared her late husband’s deep affection for the college: “Mijarul used to say that ICB, G-6/3, was better than Harvard University — because it gave him the foundation not only for academics but for life, she said and added that the later ambassador had great memory of this institution.”

She said that when Quayes joined the civil services, he did not opt for anything else but the foreign service just because of this school, as this institution taught him relevant knowledge.

Established in 1966, ICB has a rich legacy of shaping leaders, thinkers, and professionals. Among its many accomplished alumni, Ambassador Quayes stands out as a shining example of dedication, intellect, and global vision. He studied at ICB from 1965 to 1971 before moving to Bangladesh, where he built an illustrious diplomatic career spanning over three decades.

The said event brought together notable alumni, including Senator Fauzia Arshad, Ambassador Ashraf Qureshi, Supreme Court judge Ather Minallah and retired air chief marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, who fondly recalled their school days and their cherished interactions with M. Mijarul Quayes.

“He was someone who made learning an adventure — he would challenge himself to learn a new word every single day,” said Ambassador Ashraf Qureshi. “He inspired us with his discipline and curiosity.”

Justice Athar Minallah said that ICB was a wonderful institution. “Whatever I am today, it is because of this institution,” he said and paid tribute to late Bangladeshi ambassador.

An official from the Ministry of Education of Bangladesh also sent a message acknowledging the tribute, describing Ambassador Quayes as “a statesman of remarkable vision and diplomatic acumen, whose commitment to international cooperation left an enduring legacy.”

The ceremony concluded with a symbolic memory of Software Technology Park being named after Ambassador Quayes, representing the roots he laid at ICB and the global impact of his life’s work. The guests also visited the college with its new educational intervention and appreciated the standard of educational interventions in ICB G/6-3.

It is relevant to note that the said college, which used to be known as one of the best in the capital, is striving hard to reclaim its lost glory. In annual board exams, this college has not gotten any top positions for years.

This college has produced a number of police officers and top bureaucrats, but it has not been able to maintain its standards due to various reasons.

A faculty member of the college said that in the past, even foreign students (children of diplomats) used to get education from this college because of its high standards. He said that overall education standards of all FDE-run schools and colleges used to be the best until the ‘90s.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2025