Dr Tamal Lata Aditya, director (research) of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and eminent rice scientist, has passed away.
She breathed her last at 11:45pm on Wednesday after suffering a serious heart attack.
She is survived by her husband, two sons and numerous admirers.
Mourning her passing, BRRI expressed their deepest condolences and sympathy to the bereaved family.
Dr Aditya was born in 1968 in Kundal Balia village of Phulpur upazila of Mymensingh district. She graduated from Bangladesh Agricultural University in 1993 with a degree in agriculture. She received her master's degree in botany and plant breeding from the same university in 1997, and her PhD in plant breeding and biotechnology from Imperial College, University of London in 2002. She joined the BRRI plant breeding department as a scientific officer in 1994 and was later promoted to the post of chief scientific officer in 2010. She joined the post of research director in 2017 and held the post till her death.
She played an important role in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of BRRI's research program. She published more than 30 articles in various research journals at home and abroad.
Dr Aditya was also involved in the work of various agricultural organizations including Krishibid Institution Bangladesh, Bangladesh Agricultural University Alumni Association, Plant Breeding & Genetics Society of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Association for Plant Tissue Culture & Biotechnology, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute Scientist Association, and Bangladesh Academy of Science.
As a rice breeder, she made important contributions to the innovation, development and expansion of many rice varieties.
In the course of her career, she won the PBGSB Young Scientist Award 2013-14, the Professional Excellence Award 2014, the Rotary Club, Dhaka, Best Scientist BRRI Award 2014, the STRASA Award 2018 and the International Senadhira Rice Research Award 2018 for her outstanding contribution in rice research. Under her leadership, BRRI's plant breeding department won the Bangabandhu National Agriculture Award in 2016. Dr Aditya was also awarded the Jaya Alokit Nari 2020 on International Women's Day.