Eminent nuclear scientist Professor Emeritus at Bangladesh Open University Dr Mohammad Shamsher Ali passed away early Sunday at a hospital in Dhaka. He was 87.
Dr Ali breathed his last around 2 am, university registrar Dr. Maha Shafiqul Alam said.
His funeral prayer will be held following Zohr prayers at Baitul Aman Mosque on Road 7 in Dhanmondi, after which he will be laid to rest at Azimpur graveyard.
Born on 21 November 1937 in Bheramara, Kushtia, Dr Shamsher Ali was a pioneering figure in Bangladesh’s scientific and educational spheres. He completed his matriculation from Jessore Zilla School in 1954 and his Intermediate of Science from Rajshahi College in 1956.
That same year, he enrolled in the Department of Physics at the University of Dhaka, where he earned his Honours degree with distinction in 1959 and his MSc in 1960.
He received his first PhD from the University of Manchester in 1961, followed by a second PhD in Theoretical Nuclear Physics from the same institution in 1965—an exceptional academic achievement.
Dr Ali began his professional journey in 1961 at the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission. Upon completing his doctorate, he returned to Dhaka in 1965 and joined the Atomic Energy Centre as a Senior Scientific Officer. In 1970, he was appointed Director of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, a role he held until 1978.
In 1973, the University of Dhaka conferred on him the title of Honorary Professor of Physics through a special citation—a rare distinction. He formally joined the university’s Physics Department as a Professor in 1982 and continued in that role until his retirement in 2006.
Dr Ali was a visionary in higher education. He served as the founding Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Open University (BOU) from 1992 to 1996, and later as the founding Vice-Chancellor of South East University from 2002 to 2010, playing a key role in shaping private higher education in the country.
He also served as President of the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences from 2004 to 2012, contributing significantly to the development of national science policy and research.
In March 2025, Dr Ali was appointed Professor Emeritus at Bangladesh Open University, continuing his contributions to science and education in his final months.
Professor Dr M Shamsher Ali leaves behind a lasting legacy in nuclear science, education, and institution-building. He is survived by his family, students, colleagues, and admirers in the academic and scientific communities.
SMS/
