Prof. Dr. M. Afzal Hossain

Founding UGC Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Fellow 2021

Emeritus Professor & Advisor, BoT
Pundra University of Science and Technology, Bogura
Former Vice-Chancellor
Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science &Technology University, Dinajpur
Former Vice-Chancellor (In-charge)
Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh
and
Former Vice-Chancellor (Designate)
Pundra University of Science and Technology, Bogura

Dr. M. Afzal Hossain, son of Late Sabder Rahman and Late Jamila Khatoon, was born on 30 November 1952 in a noble Muslim family of village Majbari under Sariakandi Upazilla of Bogura district. Having completed his SSC examination in 1968, he got himself enrolled as an undergraduate student of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) and subsequently obtained BSc AH (Hons) degree with first class and MSc (AH) in Biochemistry with first class in the years 1974 and 1976 respectively. In 1977, he joined the Department of Biochemistry of BAU as Research Associate and appointed as Lecturer in the same Department the following year. He was promoted to the posts of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor in the same Department in the years 1980, 1986 and 1992 respectively. Meanwhile in 1984, he obtained PhD degree from the National Dairy Research Institute, Hariyana, India. In 1987, he performed his post-doctoral training in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Hawaii, USA under USAID Fellowship program. He also had to complete a research work for one year at the Institute of Cellular & Molecular Pathology, Brussels, under the EEC post-doctoral fellowship program in 1991.

Dr. Hossain has got to his credit slightly over 75 fundamental research papers published in various national and international peer-reviewed standard journals, and hence, had been awarded FAOB fellowship for participation in the 7th FAOB conference held in Malaysia in 1988. With JNCASR- COSTED Fellowship support in 1997, he served as a Visiting Scientist at the Central Food Technological Research Institute, India. The following year he served as a Visiting Scientist at Hokkaido University, Japan under JSPS Invitation Fellowship program. Sponsored by JSPS Bridge Fellowship in 2016 he also served as a Visiting Scholar at Iwate University of Japan. Dr. Hossain had undertaken around 70 foreign academic tours in various universities all over the world since 1980 till date, and also took part in more than 50 international conferences and symposia held at different times in various countries of Europe, USA and Asia.

Professor M. Afzal Hossain had been a very popular teacher in the Department of Biochemistry at BAU and a good number of graduate students received their Masters and PhD degrees under his supervision. He had been the Head of the Department of Biochemistry twice, and also the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, BAU for a period of two years during 2015-2016. He served as the Vice-Chancellor of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU), Dinajpur for a period of four years during 2008-2012. He was also the Vice-Chancellor (In-charge) of BAU during August-September, 2015. He also served as the Vice-Chancellor (Designate) of Pundra University of Science and Technology, Bogura during January-September 2017. Professor Hossain eventually elected as the Fellow of Bangladesh Academy of Agriculture.

Professor M. Afzal Hossain is affiliated with a number of professional, socio-cultural and humanitarian bodies. He has life-membership in BAAS, BBS, BNS and ARC of India. Besides, he had/has been engaged with a number of social welfare bodies like BSGP, Bangabandhu Parishad, Bangladesh JSPS Alumni Association, Karim Memorial Trust, HOPES, ARMA welfare society and many others in various capacities. He also extends his expert service as Member of Editorial Boards of the following scientific journals: BD J. of Env. & Agril. Chem. (BAU), BD J. of Biochem. & Molecular Biol. (DU), Molecular Biol. & Biotech. J. (BAU) and Farm House. During his 42-year-long teaching career, he successfully completed 10 (ten) research projects sponsored by various national and international agencies.

Dr. Hossain has authored a series of popular articles published in various national magazines dwelling on the spirit and ideals of the Great War of Liberation and those of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. All these great ideals are, in fact, easily discernible in all his deeds and words.

Professor Hossain enjoys a happy married life with his wife and two children, a son and a daughter. His wife Dr. Jahan Ara Khatun retired as CSO and Director of Scientific Information Division of BAEC, Dhaka. His son Iftihajj M. Nakib Hossain, an Electronic & Telecom Engineer and now serving in a multinational company in Australia and his only daughter Dr. Nowshin Taslima Hossain, after passing FCPS Part I in radiation oncology is now pursuing MD on the same subject at the NICRH, Dhaka.