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M. Akhtaruzzaman

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M. Akhtaruzzaman
ম. আখতারুজ্জামান
Born(1933-03-01)1 March 1933
Died2 December 2010(2010-12-02) (aged 77)
Alma materUniversity of Dhaka
University of Notre Dame
Known forResearch in cytogenetics and Bengali-language textbooks on cytology, genetics and evolution
Scientific career
FieldsBotany, cytogenetics
InstitutionsUniversity of Dhaka

M. Akhtaruzzaman (Bengali: ম. আখতারুজ্জামান; 1933–2010) was a Bangladeshi botanist, cytogeneticist, academic, and professor at the University of Dhaka.[1][2] He served as the chairman of the Department of Botany,[3] noted for his cytogenetics research in Bangladesh,[1] authoring several foundational Bengali-language textbooks on cytology and evolution.[1] He served as the General Secretary and President of the Bangladesh Botanical Society.

Early life and career

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Akhtaruzzaman completed his B.Sc. (1953)[4] and M.Sc. (1960) from the University of Dhaka,[5] followed by a Ph.D. in biology from the University of Notre Dame in 1967.[6][3] His doctoral dissertation was titled Cytogenetics of Gamma-Ray-Induced Reciprocal Translocations in Collinsia heterophylla.[7][8] Akhtaruzzaman was a professor and head of the Department of Botany, University of Dhaka.[9][10] Following his doctoral studies, his research in cytogenetics focused on gene organization, karyotype analysis, and fluorescent chromosome banding.[11][12] His subsequent studies and supervision involved around the genetic structures of native plant species and fungi.[13][14][15]

During his tenure at University of Dhaka, he authored several foundational Bengali-language textbooks on botany, cytology, and genetics that became standard curriculum texts in Bangladeshi universities and public schools.[1][16] He also translated global scientific works.[1] He formulated the courses titled Cytology, Cytogenetics and Evolution at the department.[1] He furthermore served as an Honorary Professor at the department after his formal retirement.[17] He supervised the first Ph.D. fellow of the department.[1]

He was the president of the Bangladesh College-University Teachers’ Association (BCUTA),[18][19] of which he was an official delegate representing Bangladesh at the UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education 1998 in Paris.[20][21] He also served as the Secretary General (1978–1980),[22] and President (1997–1999) of the Bangladesh Botanical Society.[23][24]

Akhtaruzzaman advocated for teaching evolution as a science in the national curriculum and defended the scientific method against creationist arguments in educational policies.[25][26][27]

Akhtaruzzaman was a lifetime member of the Bangladesh Botanical Society (BBS).[28] In 2008, the BBS awarded him an Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his lifetime contributions to the field of botany in Bangladesh.[29][30] In his memory, the Department of Botany at the University of Dhaka established the Professor Dr. M. Akhtaruzzaman Gold Medal, an academic award presented to students who achieve the highest marks in the department's Master of Science (M.S.) examination.[31]

Selected publications

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Textbooks

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  • Akhtaruzzaman, M. (1974). Koshbidhya (কোষবিদ্যা) [Cytology] (in Bengali). Dhaka: Bangla Academy. (Later editions published by Hassan Book House.)
  • Akhtaruzzaman, M. (1998). Kosh-bangshagatibidhya (কোষ-বংশগতিবিদ্যা) [Cytogenetics] (in Bengali). Dhaka: Bangla Academy. ISBN 984-07-3732-5.
  • Akhtaruzzaman, M. (1998). Bibortonbidya (বিবর্তনবিদ্যা) [Evolutionary Biology] (in Bengali). Dhaka: Bangla Academy. ISBN 984-07-3829-1.
  • Akhtaruzzaman, M. (1991). Bangshagati Bidya (বংশগতি বিদ্যা) [Genetics] (in Bengali). Dhaka: Bangla Academy. ISBN 984-07-3732-5.

Translations

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  • Darwin, Charles. Jibjatir Utpotti (জীবজাতির উৎপত্তি). Translated by M. Akhtaruzzaman. (Bengali translation of On the Origin of Species).
  • Jones, Steve. Gener Bhasha (জিনের ভাষা). Translated by M. Akhtaruzzaman. (Bengali translation of The Language of the Genes).

Selected scientific literature

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  • Akhtaruzzaman, M. (1980). "Studies on the organization of genes controlling lysine biosynthesis in Neurospora crassa: VI. Interallelic complementation at locus lysine-5". Pakistan Journal of Botany. 12 (1): 55–67. ISSN 0556-3321.

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Saha, Mihir; Khondker, Moniruzzaman; Shamsi, Shamim; Rahman, M. Oliur (2022). BOTANY: Addressing the Challenges and Opportunities for the 21st Century Centennial Special Book. University of Dhaka. p. 59. ISBN 978-984-35-2659-5. In Bangladesh, Professor Dr. M. Akhtaruzzaman pioneered cytological research in the early 1970s. He introduced the courses titled Cytology, Cytogenetics and Evolution... while also translating 'Origin of Species'... and supervising the first Ph.D. fellow of the department.
  2. ↑ Alam, S. S.; Bhowmik, S.; Khatun, R. (2010). "Localization of 5S rDNA and 18S-5.8S-25S rDNA Probes in Crinum latifolium L. Genome". Bangladesh Journal of Botany. 39 (2): 243.
  3. 1 2 Rai, Karamjit S. (1999). Four Decades of Vector Biology at the University of Notre Dame: A Scientific Perspective. Notre Dame, Indiana: University of Notre Dame Press. p. 85. ISBN 0-268-02853-2. OCLC 40862052 – via National Library of Medicine.
  4. ↑ "Commencement Programs". University of Notre Dame. 1 February 1967. p. 5. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
  5. ↑ List of Research Workers, Agriculture and Forestry, in the British Commonwealth. The Council. 1978. p. 473. ISBN 978-0-85198-424-7.
  6. ↑ Directory of Agricultural Scientists. Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council. 1976. p. 49.
  7. ↑ Zaman, M. A.; Rai, K. S. (1972). "Cytogenetics of Thirteen Radiation-Induced Reciprocal Translocations in Collinsia heterophylla". Cytologia. 37 (4): 629–638. doi:10.1508/cytologia.37.629.
  8. ↑ Akhtaruzzaman, M. (1967). Cytogenetics of Gamma-ray-induced Reciprocal Translocations in Collinsia Heterophylla. University of Notre Dame.
  9. ↑ Sultana, Syeda Sharmeen; Alam, Sheikh Shamimul (2007). "Differential Fluorescent Chromosome Banding of Solanum nigrum L. and Solanum villosum L. from Bangladesh". CYTOLOGIA. 72 (2): 213–219. doi:10.1508/cytologia.72.213. ISSN 0011-4545.
  10. ↑ Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Vol. 21–22. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. 1976. p. 69.
  11. ↑ Zaman, M. A.; Rai, K. S. (1972). "Cytogenetics of Thirteen Radiation-Induced Reciprocal Translocations in Collinsia heterophylla". Cytologia. 37 (4): 629–638. doi:10.1508/cytologia.37.629.
  12. ↑ Zaman, M. A.; Khaleque, Yasmin (1978). "The Cytology of Urginea indica Kunth. from Bangladesh". Caryologia [it]. 31 (2): 137–145. doi:10.1080/00087114.1978.10796738.
  13. ↑ Akhtaruzzaman, M. (1980). "Studies on the organization of genes controlling lysine biosynthesis in Neurospora crassa: VI. Interallelic complementation at locus lysine-5". Pakistan Journal of Botany. 12 (1): 55–67. ISSN 0556-3321.
  14. ↑ Alam, Sk. S.; Azhar, S. S.; Sarker, R. H.; Zaman, M. A. (1998). "Karyotype analysis with differential bandings in Crinum pratense and Crinum defixum". Cytologia. 63 (2): 223–227. doi:10.1508/cytologia.63.223.
  15. ↑ Mahbub, Meher Nigar; Rubaiyath Bin Rahman, A. N. M.; Alam, Sheikh Shamimul (2007). "Development of Marker Chromosomes in Three Varieties of Vigna radiata L. (Fabaceae)". CYTOLOGIA. 72 (2): 221–225. doi:10.1508/cytologia.72.221. ISSN 0011-4545.
  16. ↑ For examples of country-wide curriculum adoption, see:
  17. ↑ University of Dhaka Prospectus 2008. Dhaka: University of Dhaka. 2008. p. 71. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
  18. ↑ "Ensure quality teachers for quality education". The Daily Star. Vol. 5, no. 840. 2006-09-06. ISSN 1563-9258. Archived from the original on 2026-07-14. Retrieved 2026-08-06.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  19. ↑ "Scope for secular education created". The Daily Star. 2010-02-06. ISSN 1563-9258. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
  20. ↑ "World Conference on Higher Education | Higher Educationin the Twenty-first Century". UNESCO. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
  21. ↑ Bari, M A (5 January 1999). "Education in 21st Century: Vision and Action". The Daily Star. ISSN 1563-9258. Retrieved 2026-08-04. On the eve of 21st century, to face these challenges the UNESCO took initiative to convene a world conference in Paris (5-9th Oct 1998) with a theme - Higher Education in the Twenty-first Century: Vision and Action. We (Prof. Dr. M. Akhtaruzzaman and myself) attended the conference as official delegates from Bangladesh College University Teachers' Association (BCUTA).
  22. ↑ "Executive Committee 1978–1980". Bangladesh Journal of Botany. 7 (2). Dhaka: Bangladesh Botanical Society: Inside front cover. 1978. ISSN 0253-5416.
  23. ↑ "Executive Committee 1997–1999". Bangladesh Journal of Botany. 27 (2). Dhaka: Bangladesh Botanical Society: Inside front cover. 1998. ISSN 0253-5416.
  24. ↑ "Bangladesh Botanical Society - About Us". Bangladesh Botanical Society. Retrieved 2026-08-04.
  25. ↑ Balachandran, P. K. (6 February 2023). "Clashes in the educational field over Darwin's theory of evolution". Ceylon Today. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2026-08-08.
  26. ↑ Akhtaruzzaman, M. (2009-02-01). "MuktoMona English Blog - My Struggle to Teach Evolution in Bangladesh". Mukto-Mona. Retrieved 2026-08-06.
  27. ↑ Roy, Avijit (2018-08-26). "ড. ম আখতারুজ্জামানের মুখোমুখি : বাংলাদেশের প্রেক্ষাপটে বিবর্তনবাদ – মুক্তমনা বাংলা ব্লগ". Mukto-Mona (in Bengali). Retrieved 2026-08-05.
  28. ↑ "List of Life Members" (PDF). Bangladesh Botanical Society. 29 October 2025. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
  29. ↑ "About Us". Bangladesh Botanical Society. Retrieved 2026-08-06.
  30. ↑ "Society News: Honorary Fellowships". Bangladesh Journal of Botany. 37 (2). Dhaka: Bangladesh Botanical Society. 2008. ISSN 0253-5416.
  31. ↑ "Faculty Biodata: Chandan Kumar Dash" (PDF). University of Dhaka. p. 2. Retrieved 2026-08-06. Awarded 'Professor Dr. M. Akhtaruzzaman Gold Medal-2020' for obtaining the highest marks in MS examination.
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