Scientific discovery knows no geographical, communal, religious, ethnic, or political bias. It belongs universally and benefits all when shared openly. Everything we use in the modern world stems from science, the driving force behind civilizational progress and economic growth. Nations with more world-class scientists thrive and command global respect.
In developing nations, scientists often face political interference or unjust labeling based on beliefs or ideologies, severely hindering scientific advancement. In Bangladesh, such political tagging or discrimination tarnishes a scientist’s credibility and disrupts their work, posing a significant barrier to national scientific and economic growth in today’s knowledge-based economy.
We must shield scientists from these biases, nurturing them for society’s greater good. Otherwise, science will stagnate, and talented minds will seek opportunities abroad -- a reality already unfolding. To prevent this brain drain, we must free scientists from political prejudice and let them serve impartially.
Professor Ahmad Shamsul Islam was an extraordinary, globally renowned scientist who rose above such adversities in Bangladesh. He exemplified how groundbreaking research from a developing nation can shine on the world stage. A mentor to over a hundred scientists now working globally, he pioneered tissue culture and biotechnology over his century-long life, profoundly impacting agricultural security and research. Remarkably, he remained apolitical, avoiding all partisan labels.
On April 14, 2025, he passed away at 100 years and 7 months, leaving the scientific community and admirers in mourning. Though not my direct teacher, his influence deeply shaped my academic journey and others striving for competitive science in a polarized society. This article honours his luminous legacy.
Born on August 6, 1924, in Medinipur, British India, Ahmad Shamsul Islam completed his early education at Rajshahi Collegiate School and College. He earned a BSc (1945) and MSc (1947) in Botany from Kolkata’s Presidency College. A British Council scholarship took him to the University of Manchester, where he completed his PhD in Cytogenetics in 1954, winning the Currie Memorial Prize for groundbreaking work on strawberry chromosomes and development of seedless strawberry.
Ahmad Shamsul Islam’s early research articles on plant cytogenetics in Nature set the stage for a stellar career. In 1960, he published the first successful hybridization of two jute species in Nature, a study still relevant today. Under his leadership, Bangladesh’s first plant tissue culture research (on sugar crops) was published in 1984.
After 1971, he chaired the University of Dhaka’s Botany Department, laying the foundation for modern plant biology and biotechnology in Bangladesh. He established the nation’s first Plant Tissue Culture and Genetics Laboratory, pivotal in advancing agricultural biotechnology. He introduced tissue culture for disease-free propagation of jute, potatoes, and orchids, training countless young scientists through nationwide workshops.
In 2005, Professor AS Islam’s preliminary research on jute genome analysis at the University of Texas paved the way for Bangladesh’s landmark achievement: the full jute genome sequencing in 2017. His visionary leadership and collaboration with experts like Professor Hasina Khan and Dr Maqsudul Alam (posthumously awarded the Swadhinata Padak) were instrumental. The Nature Plants paper on jute sequencing was dedicated to him.
A globally trained scientist, Professor AS Islam worked at University of California Davis, Cornell, Nottingham, and Tokyo universities. His rare blend of scholarship and leadership earned him fellowships at the Bangladesh and World Academies of Sciences. He founded the Bangladesh Journal of Botany and co-established the Journal of Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology, still leading scientific publications. His Bengali textbook Bôngshogotir Mulokotha o Gene Prokoushol (Fundamentals of Genetics and Genetic Engineering) remains seminal.
Founder of the Global Network of Bangladeshi Biotechnologists (GNOBB), Prof Islam bridged diaspora and local scientists, fostering collaborative breakthroughs. A devoted father, his daughter Professor Zeba Islam Seraj is a top biotechnologist, while his sons hold prominent academic roles. He also founded the Quranic School Society in 1980, emphasizing moral education for children.
Honoured with the President’s Agricultural Gold Medal (1984), Ekushey Padak (1987), and the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences Gold Medal (1987), his legacy endures through his disciples and institutions. More than a scientist, he was a visionary teacher and social organizer. Though his passing leaves a void, his ideals -- "Knowledge is power, and its application is liberation" -- continue to inspire.
Professor Ahmad Shamsul Islam’s life remains a radiant chapter in Bangladesh’s scientific history, guiding future generations with enduring light.
Tofazzal Islam is Founding Director, Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (IBGE), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University and Fellow, The World Academy of Sciences and Bangladesh Academy of Sciences. E-mail: tofazzalislam@bsmrau.edu.bd.