ForeverMissed
Large image
Stories

Share a special moment from Iqbal's life.

Write a story

Missing you

May 3, 2019

Year 3

Miss you so much, I wish you sweet sleep, my sister dear.

Although there's so much that you've left bare,
I hate that you had to endure such pain.
On my mind, your saddened eyes have left a stain. Love you always and miss you

May 17, 2016

Dear Iqbal,

We had a good run together you and I. We worked in a region that never ceases to surprise. People say “never a dull day in MENA” and it is true. We worked with counterparts who could be tough, funny, demanding, kind, unreasonable, all in one go. We worked through a revolution and assorted fragilities, in a region where change can be dramatic and sudden or escape you forever, wrapping you up in the glacial pace of studies, and pilots, and back and forth about not rocking the boat. Those years are sculpted in my heart and you have been such an important part of them. I was the rookie manager and you were the veteran – you had done it all, Yemen, Egypt, Jordan, Iran (oh, I know you loved working in Iran!). You had seen it all - directors, ministers, vice presidents, coming and going - you knew the ins and outs of operations, trust funds, Bank rules. But you never got distracted by all that razzmatazz, you cared about what matters, you cared about the poor, the children with no advocate, the youth with no future.

I don’t think we ever went on mission together. We should have travelled together to Cairo for the ceremony of the successful implementation of your project with the Ministry of Family. Thanks to you, eighty thousand disadvantaged families had the necessary papers to enroll their kids in school. You probably said you had to be somewhere else. I wonder if you made it up – I know you weren’t interested in all those idle festivities, your job was done and you were off preparing some other grant, some other project. So you sent me. Like that time when your child labor project in Egypt won the prize for best JSDF – you sent Mahmoud to pick up the prize.

I was saying that in MENA the pace of change can be glacial. Well, not with you. And the difference that you made to those families who now have papers, and to those children who were working fourteen hour days kneeling in the mud to make bricks but thanks to you had a chance for some education, that was its own small revolution, and it will stay with them forever. And your energy and dedication will stay forever in my heart.

I miss you, my friend. May you rest in peace. I am thinking of you.

Roberta

Mission to Somali Regional State, Ethiopia

May 4, 2016
Processing...
This may take up to an hour.
Please be patient.
Error:
click to contact support.

Dear Iqbal,

I recall the mission we had together to Somali Regional State in Ethiopia to look into the status of basic service delivery. While struggling with your illness, you kept pace in visiting the remote woredas of the region and in guiding us during our discussions and site visits. You were so concerned about the deep rooted challenges existing in the region to provide access to basic services to the needy. During the discussion with the beneficiaries and vulnerable members of the community, you listened to every bit of their problems, touched and passionately pursued the issues in the follow up discussions with the Regional Government and Donors.
Your professionalism, energy and dedication to make a difference even out of that brief engagement was an enlightening experience for me. It was also entertaining and full of fun to see you singing and skillfully dancing the cultural Somali songs (video uploaded). Finally, because of your illness you had to return back to Addis a day before the end of the mission. It is so sad and touching that you were not able to fully recover after that mission. 
As member of the team, you were so supportive, caring and appreciative of your colleagues. I remember your back to office email sent to the management which was filled with words of appreciation showing your compassion and love to others. The beautiful artifact you brought me from India has been loved by my kids and continued to decorate my living room. Though you passed, the memories of your big heart, professionalism and generosity remains with us and forever.
May God Rest Your Soul with lasting Eternity!!!  
Demelash Demessie (Ethiopia Country Office)

May 3, 2016

Dear Iqbal,

I cannot believe you are gone. You have been struggling with your head held high for so long that I just took it for granted that you had managed to combat your illness. I will never forget our trip to Cairo, not too long after I had joined the World Bank. After a day full of meetings we would be sitting in the beautiful courtyard at the Marriott Hotel and drink mango juice. We would chat about all sorts of things and you would share your advice, sometimes about work, more often about life in general. We even watched the World Cup at Trina’s in Cairo. These were the times when you basically lived for weeks at the Marriott. I have never seen anyone so dedicated and passionate about their work than you. Since this first trip, you have continued being an inspiration to me. When you fell ill, you so very bravely fought it will your entire being, always having your son and your family in mind, and your friends. Prior to me leaving DC, we spent a lovely girls-afternoon at your wonderful home, and you organized a baby shower for me. I never got to send you a picture of Dalia in the princess dresses you bought (one is still too big). And now I never will. I cannot believe it. I am so sad you had to go so early. I will never forget you. All my love to you and to your family!

Stefanie

Share a story

 
Add a document, picture, song, or video
Add an attachment Add a media attachment to your story
You can illustrate your story with a photo, video, song, or PDF document attachment.