117 Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 14 No. 02 April’15 Editorial In memory of Prof. Ghulam Muazzam: Legendary Medical Scholar of Bangladesh Muazzam N1, Al-Mahmood AK2 Corresponds to: Prof Naima Muazzam, Member, Editorial Board, Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science, Ibn Sina Trust, Ibn Sina Medical College Bhaban 1/1-B, Kallyanpur, Dhaka-1216. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v14i2.18261 Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.14(2) 2015 p.117-118 On Behalf of ‘Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science’ and its publisher ‘Ibn Sina Trust’ we deeply express con- dolence on the death of its Founder Editor-in-Chief and the senior most Pathologist of the country Prof. Muham- mad Ghulam Muazzam. Prof. Muazzam was one of the greatest medical scholars and scientist born in this sub- continent. He was born in Birgaon under Brahmanbaria district in 1927 and passed away on 22nd January 2015 in Dhaka. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ghulam Muazzam was a brilliant and extremely meritorious student. He received merit scholarships throughout his educational career- from Upper Primary Examination (1936) up to post gradu- ate studies. He passed his Matriculation Examination in 1943 in the 1st Division with distinctions in two sub- jects under Calcutta University. The jurisdiction of Cal- cutta University was entire Bengal (present Bangladesh, West-Bengal and Assam). He passed his I.Sc in 1st Di- vision with distinction from Calcutta Islamia College under Calcutta University and was placed 4th among Muslim students according to merit. Following I.Sc, he went to study medicine at Calcutta Medical College. He completed his M.B.S.S at the esteemed Calcutta Medi- cal College where he entered on the basis of general merit category amongst all the students (1st ten students used to get admission on merit basis). During his days in Calcutta Medical College he showed his brilliance. He stood first in the university in Medical Jurisprudence and received University Gold Medal (Roy Debendranth Raibahadur) in Medical Jurisprudence. He was awarded a Gold Medal for his outstanding result in the 4th year of MBBS Exam. He stood first in the Test examination of the Final MBBS Part 1B. He completed MBBS in 1950 with distinction. Career: He started his career as a demonstrator (Lec- ture) of pathology in Dhaka Medical College in the year 1951. Later he was awarded Central Govt. Scholarship for higher studies in the UK, There he obtained high- est degree (MRCPath) in pathology. On his return from UK in 1959 he joined in the Department of Pathology in Dhaka Medical College. He worked as professor of Pa- thology in Rajshahi Medical College. After his Nuffield Fllowship he joined as founder professor of Microbiol- ogy in IPGMR in 1968. Later on he served as principal of Sylhet and Rangpur Medical College. He also worked as Director of BMDC in 1974-75. For sometime worked as professor of Pathology in Al-Fateh University of Lib- ya. He was a selected expert in the field of Pathology & Microbiology by Commonwealth in the panel of experts of Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation (CFTC) and in that capacity worked in Bahamas for the period of 1977-79 and Ghana University for the period of 1988-91. From the early days of his career he showed his commit- ment in medical research and innovation. He published numerous articles in internationally reputed journals between 1959 and 60’s1-5. Prof. Muazzam wrote many books on scientific aspects of Islam and Holy Quran.. He Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ghulam Muazzam MB (Cal), FRCPath (Eng) Ist July 1927- 22nd January 2015 1. Prof Naima Muazzam, Member, Editorial Board, Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science. 2. Prof. Abu Kholdun Al-Mahmood, Executive Editor, Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science. 118 In memory of Prof. Ghulam Muazzam: Legendary Medical Scholar of Bangladesh was possibly the first scientist to carry on research on the effects of Ramadan fasting on health. He hypothesized that Ramadan fasting has beneficial effect on health. He published his observation on Ramadan Fasting on health in international and regional journals1,3,6-8, which ulti- mately promote much research on this field. Many sci- entists took this fasting habit of Muslim community in their holy month to study different metabolic events in feed-fast states. He was one of the founder faculty members of the then IPGMR and pioneered many medical research there2,4-5, 9-13. Professor Muazzam was instrumental in the establishment of the Microbiology department in IPGMR. He retired from the government service in 1982 and en- gaged himself to establish laboratory services of the Ibn Sina Trust which has become a pioneer private medical diagnostic lab in Bangladesh. Through his relentless ef- forts he raised the lab to an international standard labora- tory. In the year 1994 ‘Ibn Sina Trust’ started publication of ‘Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science’, Prof. Muaz- zam acted as founder Editor-in-Chief of this journal. During it’s early years of publication the journal re- ceived many contributions from him14-21. He led from the fore front until the last day of his life for the journal to maintain quality and achieve international affiliation. It is worth mentioning that Prof Muazzam was editor of East Pakistan Medical Journal and first editor of Medical Bulletin of IPGMR. Professor Muazzam was also involved with many social and philanthropic activities. He was life member of NA- TAB Bangladesh, Society of Pathologists, Bangladesh. He was past treasurer of Pak Medical Association (East Zone). He was past president of Society of Pathologists, Bangladesh. He was the past general secretary of Calcut- ta Medical College Ex-student Association, Bangladesh. He was honored with ‘Ibn Sina Gold Medal’ by the the Ibn Sina Trust in 2002 for his contribution in medical science in the country. He was an ever smiling, guiding and patronizing person to all level of his colleagues. With his priceless contribu- tions he will remain as everlasting icon of medical sci- ence in Bangladesh. References: 1.Muazzam MG, Khaleque KA. Effects of fasting in ramadhan. J Trop Med Hyg. 1959;Dec;62:292-94. PMID:14424866 2.Khaleque KA, Muazzam MG, Chowdhury RI.Examination of sputum for eosinophils. J Trop Med Hyg. 1960 Dec;63:291-2. PMID:13755590 3.Khaleque KA, Muazzam MG, Ispahani P. Further observations on the effects of fasting in Ramadhan. J Trop Med Hyg. 1960 Oct;63:241-3.PMID:13755591 4.Islam N, Muazzam MG, Khaleque KA. Idiopathic tropical eosinophilia. J Lancet. 1960 Aug;80:389-96. PMID:14405939 5.Muazzam MG, Khaleque KA, Ibrahim M.Hepatic ascariasis. J Trop Med Hyg. 1960 Apr;63:95-7. PMID:14424865 6. Khaleque KA, Muazzam MG, Chowdhury RI. Stress in Ramadhan fasting. J Trop Med Hyg. 1961 Nov;64:277-9. PMID:14455514 7. MG Muazzam. Ramadan Fasting and Medical Science. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.1(1) 1994 pp.38. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v1i1.7851 8. MG Muazzam. Effects of Ramadan Fasting on Health. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science . 1997; 4(3): 12-25. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v4i3.8231 9. Khaleque KA, Muazam MG, Chowdhury RI. Anthrax in East Pakistan. J Trop Med Hyg. 1961 Jan;64:18-9. PMID:13755589 10. Islam N, Asiruddin M, Muazzam MG.Aneurysm of the splenic artery (with a case report). Br J Clin Pract. 1961 Jun;15:527-31. PMID:13718040 11. Khaleque KA, Muazzam MG, Ispahani P. A simple method for the use of water melon seed preparation in the estimation of blood urea. J Clin Pathol. 1964 Jan;17:97-8.PMID:14100015 http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jcp.17.1.97 12. Muazzam MG, Sneddon M. Sensitivity of baby hamster kidney (BHK 21-C 13) cells to enteric viruses. Brief report. Arch Gesamte Virusforsch. 1970;30(4):405-7. PMID:4318626 13. Alam SA, Muazzam MG. Dermatophytes in Bangladesh. J Trop Med Hyg. 1974 Nov;77(11):267-9. PMID: 4463252 14. Microscopic Findings of Stool Analysis of 4000 Adults in Bangladesh. MG Muazzam.Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science. 1(4) 1994 pp.15-19 15.An Unusual Case: Intestinal Polyposis Coli. MG Muazzam. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science. 1(4) 1994 pp.37-39. 16.Autopsy Findings of 15,823 Natural Deaths in Accra, Ghana. MG Muazzam, Y Tette, R Gyasi. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science. 1(1) 1994 pp.12-21. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v1i1.7847 17.Congenital Anomaly: Closed Prepuce. MG Muazzam. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.1(1) 1994 pp.39. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v1i1.7852 18.Stool Analysis of 3000 Children in Bangladesh. N Muazzam, MG Muazzam. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.1(1) 1994 pp.28-34. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms. v1i1.7849 19.History of Medicine – 1.The Editor. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.1(1) 1994 pp.35-37. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3329/bjms.v1i1.7850 20.Male Infertility in Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. MG Muazzam. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science. 1994; 1 (3) (DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329.bjms.v1i3.17910 21. Investigation of Infertility - Semen Analysis. MG Muazzam. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science . 1996; 3(1): 32-35. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v3i1.8225