Dhaka, Sept. 11 -- Moinul Huq, an eminent geologist and geoscientist breathed his last on August 26 at the age of 74 after suffering a long illness. He was one of the pioneers who set the course of oil and gas exploration in Bangladesh after the country emerged as an independent state.

Moinul Huq joined the then Oil and Gas Development Corporation of Pakistan in 1970 after completing Masters' degree in geology from Dhaka University. He was among the first group of young geologists who in later years played a pivotal role in the oil and gas sector of the country after the independence in 1971. He continued his long career in Petrobangla and later in Bapex and Hydro-Carbon unit of the Ministry of Energy. As a devoted professional in the fi...