A brief tribute to Yasmeen Murshed
A life of education, elegance, and endless service
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Bangladesh has lost one of its most luminous educationists, diplomats, and political figures -- Yasmeen Murshed. The founder of Scholastica School and a founding trustee of Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), Ms Yasmeen breathed her last on Thursday night (July 31 2025) in Dhaka at the age of 80. She is survived by her son Syed Maher Murshed and daughter Syeda Madiha Murshed, and countless others she touched through transformative work.
Born on May 19, 1945 in Calcutta, Ms Yasmeen belonged to the Dhaka Nawab family. Her father, Khwaja Zakiuddin, was a pioneering banker, while her mother, Begum Binoo, connected her to a legacy of political and social influence. She was married to Syed Tanweer Murshed.
Ms Yasmeen studied at Viqarunnisa Noon School in Dhaka and obtained a BA in English and an MA in Economics degrees from the University of Punjab in 1969. Her brief tenure as an English lecturer in Islamabad became the prelude to a life of educational leadership.
In 1977, she founded Scholastica School, which was more than a school. The institution became a national benchmark in English-medium education, emphasising academic rigour and character formation. Under her stewardship as principal and chairperson until 2007, the school grew from a modest campus to a sprawling five-branch network across Dhaka, serving tens of thousands of students from preschool to A Levels.
Her vision extended beyond schooling. She played a key role in founding Independent University, Bangladesh in 1993 as a member of the Education Science Technology and Cultural Development Trust (ESTCDT), the founding trust of the university. This institution reflected her lifelong belief -- higher education must align with science, creativity and public development needs. Today IUB stands as a major private university in the country - part of her enduring legacy.
Ms Yasmeen also served as an adviser to the caretaker government from October 2006 to January 2007, overseeing Primary and Mass Education, Women and Children Affairs, and Social Welfare. In 2007, she was appointed High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Pakistan, representing her nation with poise and understanding.
On August 1, 2025, janaza (funeral prayer) for her was held after Jummah in Azad Mosque, Gulshan, attended by state and civil dignitaries, followed by a touching second tribute at Scholastica Senior Campus in Uttara. She was buried that evening at Banani Graveyard-a space where the nation bid farewell to one of its most guided lights.