Muhammad Qudrat-i-Khuda

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Muhammad Qudrat-i-Khuda (c. 1900 – 3 November 1977) was a Bangladeshi organic chemist,

educationist and writer.He founded the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. From 1969 till 1972, he served as the president of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences. After the independence of Bangladesh, as a chairman of the National Education Commission, he published a report named Qudrat-i-Khuda Education Commission Report.
Born in Margram village of Birbhum district in Bengal Presidency, Qudrat received his early education from the Margram ME High School and Calcutta Woodburn ME School. He passed the matriculation examination from Calcutta Madrasa in 1918 in the first division. In 1924, he obtained the MSc degree in chemistry standing first in first class, from Kolkata Presidency College and was awarded a gold medal for his performance. He received a Premchand Roychand studentship for higher research in chemistry at Calcutta University. He obtained the Doctor of Science in 1929 from London University for his research entitled Stainless Configuration of Multiplanmet Ring.

Qudrat began his career as a lecturer in chemistry at Presidency College in 1931 and was promoted to head of the department in 1936. From 1942 to 1944, he served as the principal of Islamia College in Calcutta. He returned to Presidency College in 1946, becoming the principal of the college for a brief period in 1947. At the same time, he was a fellow and a member of the senate of Calcutta University. After the partition of India, he came to East Bengal (Bangladesh) in 1947 and served as the first director of Public Instruction of the Government of East Pakistan from 1947 to 1949. In 1949, he was appointed scientific adviser to the Ministry of Defence of the Government of Pakistan. He became the chairman of the Secondary Education Board and served from 1952 to 1955 while serving as faculty member at the Karachi University. He was appointed the first director of the East Regional Laboratories of the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research in 1955 and established the laboratories in Dhaka. After retirement from directorship in 1966, he was appointed chairman of the 'Kendriya Bangla Unnayan Board' (Central Board for the Development of Bengali).

Qudrat was appointed a visiting professor of chemistry at University of Dhaka in 1975 and served until his death on 3 November 1977.

Qudrat's field of specialisation was organic chemistry. He conducted research on herbals, jute, salt, charcoal, soil and minerals. He successfully extracted biochemical elements from local trees and plants for medicinal use. Qudrat and his associates patented 18 scientific inventions. Manufacturing of Partex from jute-stick was his greatest scientific achievement. Manufacturing malt vinegar from the juice of sugarcane and molasses, Rayon from jute and jute-sticks, and paper from jute were his other significant scientific innovations.

Qudrat played an important role in popularising Bengali for scientific practices. As such, he wrote a number of books on science and technology in Bengali including Bigganer Saras Kahini (Interesting History of Science), Bigganer Vichitra Kahini (Wonderful History of Science), Bigganer Suchana (Origin of Science), Jaiba Rasayan (Organic Chemistry) in four volumes, Purba Pakistaner Shilpa Sambhabana (Industrial Potentiality of East Pakistan), Paramanu Parichiti (An Introduction to the Atom) and Bigganer Pahela Katha (First Word of Science). Two Bengali science magazines Purogami Biggan (Pioneering Science; 1963) and 'Bigganer Joyjatra' (The Victory of Science; 1972) were published under his auspices. He also wrote some religious books including Pabitra Quraner Puti Kotha O Angari Jaoyara (The Holy Sayings of Quran and Angari Jaoyara).

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Abdus Suttar Khan

Abdus Suttar Khan (c. 1941 – 31 January 2008) was a Bangladeshi scientist. He researched on aerospace for four decades with NASA, United Technology, and Alstom, a French power generation company. Khan invented more than forty different alloys for commercial application in space shuttles, jet engines, train engines and industrial gas turbines.
Khan was born in Khagatua village, PS Nabinagar, Brahmanbaria District, British India (now in Bangladesh). He attended Ratanpur High School and did his intermediate at Comilla Victoria College. After graduating at the top of his class from University of Dhaka with a Bachelor of Science (Honors) in 1962 and master's degree in chemistry in 1963, Khan joined the Chemistry department as a lecturer at the same university.In 1964, he accepted a scholarship to study in Oxford University and received his PhD degree in chemistry in 1968. Following his PhD, Khan returned to the Chemistry department of DU as an associate professor and worked there until 1973. That year, he left Bangladesh to conduct research in the field of materials engineering (alloys) in the United States

During his career, Khan invented more than forty different alloys. These alloys are designed for the use in the area of high temperature, such as blades of gas turbine or jet engines. They are coated with environmentally resistant coatings to provide protection from oxidation and/or corrosion, high temperature (to prevent thermal fatigue), to provide wear resistance etc.

These have been commercially applied in space shuttles, advanced commercial jet engines, and US air force jet engines. These alloys made engines lighter, which enabled the aircraft to fly faster. Khan's work in Switzerland also involved alloys, which increased the speed of train engines and industrial gas turbines.

One of Khan's inventions, high strength nickel based alloys, were used for increased fuel efficiency in F-15 and F-16 fighter engines. Subsequently, these alloys were declared as 21st Century materials for advanced aircraft engines in the Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Magazine (Popular Science, June 1990).

1. Nano-catalysts developed are used for in fuel flow path in advanced jet engines for high mach propulsion
2. Advanced abrasion resistant materials developed are used for increased fuel efficiencies of US AF fighter engines (Proprietary to United Technologies' Pratt & Whitney)
3. Corrosion & fatigue resistant coatings deposited by cathodic arc process is used in advanced commercial in Pratt & Whiney jet engines (Proprietary to United Technologies' Pratt & Whitney)
4. Electrodeposited wear resistant coatings developed is used in advanced GT24/26 industrial gas turbine engines by Alstom, Switzerland (Proprietary to Alstom, Switzerland)
5. Electrodeposited oxidation-corrosion resistant coatings used by Alstom, Switzerland in Alstom Power GT-11 industrial gas turbine engines (Proprietary to Alstom, Switzerland)

   For Khan's outstanding research and its application in aerospace, he received numerous prestigious awards from NASA, the US Air Force, United Technology, and Alstom. In addition to these achievements, Khan was a Chartered Scientist (Professional Scientist) of the Royal Society of Chemistry (Great Britain, 2005), Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (Great Britain, 1996), and a member of the American Society of Metals.

Some of his important awards and recognitions include:

• The "1986 United Technologies Special Award" for contributing the development of high strength nickel based alloys (known as Alloy Y) used for increased fuel efficiency of F-15 & F-16 fighter engines. The Alloy Y was highlighted in Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Magazine (AMM Magazine), 4 August 1986. Subsequently, the Alloy Y was declared as 21st Century Materials for advanced aircraft engines.
• "United Technologies Research Center Award of Excellence" for developing a unique manufacturing process for hydrocarbon catalysis for high-speed aircraft & missile propulsion (1994).
• The hydrocarbon fuel catalyst technology developed under NASA-Air Force contract was declared as enabling technology by NASA and US Air Force in 1992
• "Pratt & Whitney's Special" Award for contribution to development of manufacturing technology for advanced surface protection coatings for use in jet engines (1993)

During his retired life, Khan was conducting research as an honorary professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Florida State University. While researching there, he tried to establish a Center of Excellence in nanomaterials for research in the area of carbon nanotechnology for applications in materials s

cience and biomaterial technology.

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Tahmima Anam

Tahmima Anam (Bengali: তাহমিমা আনাম; born 8 October 1975) is a British Bangladeshi writer, novelist and columnist. Her first novel, A Golden Age, was published by John Murray in 2007 and was the Best First Book winner of the 2008 Commonwealth Writers' Prize. In 2013 she was included in the Granta list of one of the best young writers. Her follow-up novel The Good Muslim was nominated for the 2011 Man Asian Literary Prize.

Anam's father Mahfuz Anam was a freedom fighter in Bangladesh Liberation War. Her mother Shaheen and grandfather Abul Mansur Ahmed, a writer and activist, too had been deeply involved in the war.

Anam was born in 8 October 1975 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, four year after the country's independence. She remain there until her age was two. Then the family moved to Paris, New York and Thailand due to her father’s job with UNESCO. During her childhood her parent had made her introduce to Bengali culture. They used to speak Bangla at home and spoke often about the war and what it mean to theaily Star, largest circulating English-language newspaper in Bangladesh.

At the age of 17, she won a scholarship for Mount Holyoke College. She graduated from there in 1997.

She earned a PhD in Anthropology from Harvard University in 2005, for her thesis "Fixing the Past: War, Violence, and Habitations of Memory in Post-Independence Bangladesh." In 2005.

Later, she completed her MA in Creative Writing at Royal Holloway, University of London.

In March 2007, Anam's first novel was published by John Murray. She picked the Bangladesh Liberation War as her first subject to write the novel A Golden Age. Anam was inspired by her parents who were freedom fighters during the war.^[11] Tahmima also researched the war which covered the ceMatir Moina (The Clay Bird) which reflects the happenings during that war.

ntral part of her post graduation. For the benefit of her research, she stayed in Bangladesh for two years and interviewed hundreds of war fighters. She also worked on the set of Tareque and Catherine Masud's critically acclaimed film

In 2011, her second novel The Good Muslim a sequel to A Golden Age was published. It was nominated for the 2011 Man Asian Literary Prize longlist.

In 2015, Her stort-story Garments was published. The story has been inspired from Rana plaza building collapse. It won O. Henry Award and also been shortlisted for BBC National Short Story Award. At the same year, she became a judge for The Man Booker International Prize 2016.

In 2016, her novel The Bones of Grace published under Harper Collins.

In 2017, she was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

Anam's op-ed column has published in New York Times, The Guardian and in New Statesman. In her column, Anam has written about Bangladesh and its growing problem.

Anam's first husband was a Bangladeshi marketing executive. In 2010, Anam married an American inventor, Roland O. Lamb, whom she met at Harvard University.The couple have a son, named Rumi.She has resided in Kilburn, London for the last decade.

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Muhammed Zafar Iqbal

Muhammed Zafar Iqbal (Bengali: মুহম্মদ জাফর ইকবাল; born 23 December 1952) is a Bangladeshi author of science fiction and Children's literature He is a professor of computer science and engineering at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology. He is also head of the department of electrical and electronic engineering at that university.

Zafar Iqbal was born on 23 December 1952 in Sylhet. His father, Faizur Rahman Ahmed, was a police officer.His mother is Ayesha Akhter Khatun. In his childhood, he traveled various parts of Bangladesh. This was because of his father's transferring jobs. Iqbal was encouraged to write by his father in early life. Iqbal passed Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam from Bogra Zilla School in 1968 and Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) exam from Dhaka College in 1970. He earned his BSc in physics from the University of Dhaka in 1976. In the same year Iqbal went to University of Washington to obtain his PhD which he earned in 1982.

He married Yasmeen Haque in 1978. She is currently the Dean of the Life Science Department and Head of the department of Physics at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST). They have a son, Nabil, and a daughter, Yeshim. Iqbal's elder brother, Humayun Ahmed, was a writer and filmmaker. His younger brother, Ahsan Habib, is the editor of the satirical magazine, Unmad (Mad) and a cartoonist.

After obtaining his PhD degree, Iqbal worked as a post-doctoral researcher at California Institute of Technology (Caltech). This was from 1983 to 1988. He then joined Bell Communications Research (Bellcore) as a research scientist. He left the institute in 1994. Upon returning to Bangladesh he joined the faculty of the Computer Science and Engineering department at SUST. Later he became the head of the Electrical and Electronic Engineering department (EEE).He also serves as the Director of BTCL and Vice President of Bangladesh Mathematical Olympiad committee.Iqbal played a leading role in founding Bangladesh Mathematical Olympiad. He popularized mathematics among Bangladeshi youths at local and international level. In 2011 he won Rotary SEED Award (Science, Education and Economic Development) for his contribution in the field of education.

Iqbal started writing stories from a very early age. He wrote his first short story at the age of seven.^[While studying in Dhaka University Iqbal's story Copotronik Bhalobasa was published in a local magazine. Later he rewrote the story and published it as collection of stories titled Copotronik Sukh Dukho.Iqbal is one of the first writers of science fiction in the Bengali language. He mainly writes for younger readers. He is best known for his novels for youngsters. He also wrote several articles on physics and mathematics. He is regularly a Columnist for mainstream newspapers.

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Maqsudul Alam

Maqsudul Alam is a Bangladeshi American Scientist and Professor. Dr. Maqsudul Alam achieved Three milestones in genomics - sequencing the genomes of Papaya, Rubber plants and Jute. Dr. Maqsudul Alam is a professor of the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a member of advisory board at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology.
Education
?    M.S. Microbiology in 1979 from Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.
?    Ph.D. Microbiology in 1982 from Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.
?    Ph.D. Biochemistry in 1987 from Max-Planck-Institute of Biochemistry, Germany
Professional Positions
?    10/03-present Director, Advanced Studies in Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics, College of Natural Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawai?i
?    07/01-present Professor, Department of Microbiology, University of Hawai?i at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawai?i
?    08/97-06/01 Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, University of Hawai?i at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawai?i
?    08/92-07/97 Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, University of Hawai?i at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawai?i
?    03/90-07/92 Visiting Scientist, Department of Bioch

emistry and Biophysics, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
?    03/88-02/90 Senior Research Scientist, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
?    1988-1989 Visiting Scientist, German Research Foundation, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
?    1987-1988 Assistant Scientist, Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Munich, Germany
?    1986-1987 Alexander von-Humboldts Fellow, Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Munich, Germany
?    12/84-03/86 Research Associate, Biochemistry/Biophysics Program, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
Awards
? University of Hawai?i, Board of Regents' Excellence of Research Award, 2001
? NIH Shannon Award, 1997
? Humboldt Research Fellow, German Science Foundation, 1987

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Abdul Gaffar Choudhury

Abdul Gaffar Choudhury (Bengali: আবদুল গাফফার চৌধুরী; born 12 December 1934) is a Bangladeshi-born British writer, journalist, columnist, political analyst and poet. He is perhaps best known for writing the lyrics to "Amar Bhaier Rôkte Rangano" which is the most widely celebrated song commemorating the Bengali Language Movement.

Choudhury was born Ulania, Mehendiganj, Barisal Division, Bengal Presidency (now Bangladesh), British India.^[1] He graduated from Dhaka University in 1959 and came to England on 5 October 1974.^[2][3]

Choudhury's father, Hazi Wahed Reza Choudhury, was a landlord and freedom fighter of British India. He was the president of Barisal District Congress and a member of the All India Congress Working Committee. His father was imprisoned in 1942 August Movement. He served as secretary to Motilal Nehru. Zohra Khatun was Choudhury's mother.^[2][3]

They are three brothers and five sisters, Ali Reza Choudhury (Mehdi) his younger brother, Hossain reja Choudhury his elder brother. His sisters name is; Manik bibi choudhury, Laili Khatun choudhury, Saleha Khatun choudhury, Masuma Begum choudhury and his younger sister name Fazilatun Nesa Choudhury.

Before moving to the United Kingdom, Choudhury worked as a journalist in different national newspapers in Dhaka. During the 1971 Bangladeshi Liberation War, he worked for Joy Bangla, Jugantar and Anandabazar Patrika.

He is perhaps best known for writing the lyrics to Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano which is recognised as the most influential song of Bengali Language Movement and was initially set to music by him. Later, however, Altaf Mahmud's composed music and adapted the song. It has been regarded by listeners of BBC Bengali Service as the third best song in Bengali.

In the UK, Choudhury founded the newspaper Notun Din. He has written 35 five books. He lives in London from where he regularly writes columns in national Bangladeshi dailies, in Bengali newspapers of Bangladeshi community and in a daily paper in Kolkata.

Some of his notable works are "Dan Pithe Shawkat", "Chandrodwiper Upakhyan", "Nam Na Jana Bhore", "Nil Jamuna", "Shesh Rajanir Chand", "Polashi Thekey Dhanmondi", "Bastobotar Nirikhey" and others.

Choudhury has produced a film on the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called Polashi theke Dhanmond. It was reported in 2008, that he was due to produce the film The Poet of Politics about the life of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Choudhury came to the United Kingdom for the treatment of his wife and could not return to Bangladesh for 22 years after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. On 18 December 2012, Choudhury's wife Selima Choudhury died in London. They had one son and four daughters. Their son, Anupam, works for Reuters, and their four daughters are Tanima, Chinmoyee, Binita and Indira.

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