Seven Bangladeshi scientists have been elected fellows of the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), while Professor Kamrun Nahar has received the prestigious TWAS-Fayzah M Al-Kharafi Award for her contributions to scientific research.
The announcements were made at the academy's recent annual general meeting, held online.
A total of 87 scientists from around the world were elected TWAS fellows this year. The seven Bangladeshi researchers, all members of the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences (BAS), were selected for the 2027 term.
The newly elected fellows are:
- Professor Kazi Matin Uddin Ahmed of the Department of Geology at the University of Dhaka.
- Professor Kamrun Nahar of the Department of Agricultural Botany at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University.
- Dr Mohammad Abdul Latif, director of the Rice Research Centre at Supreme Seed Company Ltd and former director of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute.
- Professor Mohammad Abdur Rashid, retired professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of Dhaka.
- Dr Mubarak Ahmad Khan, scientific adviser at the Research Lab of Ecotex Ltd and former chief scientific officer of the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR).
- Professor Mohammad Sohel Rahman of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet).
- Professor AKM Akhtar Hossain of the Department of Physics and associate dean of the Faculty of Postgraduate Studies at Buet.
Professor Nahar also received the TWAS-Fayzah M Al-Kharafi Award in recognition of her contributions to environmental and agricultural science research. Her selection as a fellow and receipt of the award mark a double recognition by the international academy.
The academy's international jury and executive council recognised the Bangladeshi researchers' contributions to geology, groundwater protection, agricultural science, pharmaceutical chemistry, environmentally friendly jute technology, computer science and quantum physics.