Former Bosnian Deputy Prime Minister and Academic Rusmir Mahmutcehajic passes away in Sarajevo

Known for his deep devotion to his homeland, Mahmutcehajic famously insisted that Bosnia and Herzegovina always be referred to by its full name, rejecting any abbreviations. Federation BiH Minister for Displaced Persons and Refugees, Nerin Dizdar, noted that Mahmutcehajic held a profound and exemplary love for his birthplace, Stolac. Dizdar highlighted that Mahmutcehajic spearheaded the reconstruction of all destroyed mosques in Stolac, along with numerous other national monuments and waqf properties across the country.

Born in Stolac on June 29, 1948, Mahmutcehajic completed his early education in his hometown before graduating from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the University of Sarajevo in 1973. He earned his master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Zagreb in 1975 and 1980, respectively. His academic journey included a specialization at the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Italy and postdoctoral studies at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium.

Throughout his career, Mahmutcehajic held several leadership roles, including director of the Institute for Occupational Safety and the Institute for Ergonomics at the University of Sarajevo. Between 1985 and 1991, he served as a professor and dean at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the University of Osijek.

His political tenure included serving as Deputy Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1991 to 1992 and as Minister of Energy, Mining, and Industry from 1992 until his resignation in 1994. An accomplished scholar and writer, he published over one hundred scientific papers and eight books in his technical field, in addition to seventeen books consisting of prose, political and philosophical essays, and translations.