Chittagong Bureau :
Minister for Housing and Public Works, Engr. Mosharaf Hossain said there is no death of the celebrities like National Professor Dr. Nurul Islam and he is still alive in the heart of the mass people till the USTC and Janasebha Foundation will exist.
Prof. Nurul Islam is the great son of the soil and the globally reputed medical scientist and physician. The minister was addressing the 86th birth and first death anniversary of the National Professor and the founder Vice Chancellor & Chairman of USTC (University of Science & Technology, Chittagong) as Chief Guest.
The 86th birth and 1stdeath anniversary of National Professor Dr Nurul Islam, Founder Vice Chancellor, USTC was observed yesterday (19 April) at USTC Auditorium, USTC, Chittagong. Md. Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed, MP, State Minister for Land was present as special guest. Prof. (Dr) Md. Jahangir Alam,Vice Chancellor, Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology (CUET) was present as guest of honor. Foreign diplomat Karma S. Tshosar, counselor of Royal Bhutan Embassy, Bangladesh was also present.
The function was jointly organized by the Janasheba Foundation(sponsor of USTC) and University of Science & Technology Chittagong (USTC).
Besides, the chief guest, special guests, guest of honour , Dr Umar Faruk,Prof. Dr.Jalal Ahmed, Dr, Nila Islam, Dr.Prabir, spoke on the occasion.
Vice Chancellor of USTC Prof. Dr.Rezaul Karim delivered address of welcome on the occasion. Chairman of USTC Managing Committee and the Trusty Board of Janasebha Foundation Ahmed Iftekhar Islam presided over it.
The speakers in the function recalled the contribution of Prof Islam.He was born on 01 April 1928 at the village of Chandanaish in Chittagong he was a meritorious student from the school life. After completion of his secondary education from Gasbaria N.G.M. High School, Chandanaish, Chittagong in 1943 he completed I.Sc. from Calcutta Islamia Science College and thereafter completed medical graduation from Calcutta Medical College. Thereafter he completed MRCP in 1954 with the government scholarship and completed TDD in 1955 from Wales Univesity, London. Backed home he joined Mitford Hospital and then Dhaka Medical College as associate professor in 1958 and Chittagong Medical College as professor in 1962. He got Nuffield scholarship in 1963 and worked as visiting professor in London and returned home in 1964. He joined PG institute as Joint Director in 1965 and became director of the Institute in 1966 and had been there as director and professor of medicine for 24 years. He was not only a renowned physicians but also an organizer and social reformer as well. He founded Islamic Medical Mission, Janasheba Foundation, ADHUNIK, By establishing ‘ADHUNIK’- country’s first anti-tobacco organization and waged social campaign against smoking. The movement gained momentum and subsequently many other anti-tobacco organizations emerged in the country. The role of anti-tobacco movement in Bangladesh has been recognized by the WHO. The speakers recalled that Bangladesh National Drug Policy 1982 under his able leadership was acclaimed at home and abroad. The national durg policy contributed towards expansion of local pharmaceutical industry thereby import of unnecessary medicines was stopped and meeting local demand the drug policy helped export of medicines from the country and thus created opportunity for earning of foreign currency for the country. Moreover employment opportunity also generated due to expansion of local pharmaceutical industry. The speakers told that he is no longer alive, but his contribution towards formulating national drug policy, social movement against tobacco and smoking, expansion of postgraduate medical education will be remembered by the nation forever. He was not only an expert administrator but also a social reformer, medical scientist, renowned physician and teacher, they told. He will be remembered among the future generation for his discipline and punctuality in his professional life. After the discussions over the birth and death anniversary of the renowned physician, a doa mahfil was held at the grave side of the celebrity and offered fateha and Mujanat. Later Mezban (a traditional feast of Chittagong) was also arranged at USTC premises.
