Renowned nuclear scientist Dr Shamsher Ali passes away at 87
NN Online:
Professor Emeritus Dr Mohammad Shamsher Ali, one of Bangladesh’s most distinguished nuclear physicists and educationists, passed away in the early hours of Saturday at a hospital in Dhaka. He was 87.
His death, around 3:30 am, was confirmed by his son, Jehan Ali.
Dr Shamsher Ali’s funeral prayer will be held after Zohr (noon) at Baitul Aman Mosque on Road 7, Dhanmondi. He will be laid to rest at Azimpur graveyard.
Born on November 21, 1937, in Bheramara, Kushtia, Dr Ali was a trailblazer in the country’s scientific and academic spheres. He completed his matriculation from Jessore Zilla School in 1954 and his ISC from Rajshahi College in 1956. The same year, he joined the Physics Department at the University of Dhaka, where he earned his BSc with Honours in 1959 and MSc in 1960.
He pursued advanced studies at the University of Manchester, earning two PhDs — the first in 1961, and the second in Theoretical Nuclear Physics in 1965 — a rare academic distinction.
Dr Ali began his career in 1961 with the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission. Upon completing his studies, he returned to Dhaka in 1965 to join the Atomic Energy Centre as a Senior Scientific Officer. In 1970, he was appointed Director of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, a position he held until 1978.
His contributions to science were formally recognised by the University of Dhaka, which awarded him the title of Honorary Professor of Physics in 1973. He officially joined the university as a Professor in 1982 and served there until his retirement in 2006.
A pioneer in open and private higher education in Bangladesh, Dr Ali was the founding Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Open University (1992–1996) and later the founding Vice-Chancellor of South East University (2002–2010).
He also led the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences as its President from 2004 to 2012, playing a central role in shaping the country’s scientific research and policy.
In March 2025, he began his tenure as Professor Emeritus at Bangladesh Open University, continuing his lifelong dedication to academia.
Dr Shamsher Ali leaves behind a lasting legacy in nuclear science, higher education, and institution-building. He is survived by his family, former students, and a grateful scientific community.