Mafizuddin Ahmed ( – 26 September 1997) was a Bangladeshi educationist and scientist. He served as the first vice-chancellor of

Jahangirnagar University Jahangirnagar University (, abbreviated as JU; initially started as Jahangirnagar Muslim University; ) is a fully residential public university, public research university located in Savar Upazila, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was established in ...

. He was a founding fellow of the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences.

Early life and education

He was born in a respectable family in Gangair village under Dhalapara Union, Ghatail,

Tangail Tangail (, ) is a city of Tangail District in central Bangladesh. A significant city in Bangladesh, Tangail lies on the bank of the Louhajang River, northwest of Dhaka, the nation's capital. Etymology ''Tangail'' originates from the Beng ...

. Ahmed completed his bachelor's and master's in chemistry from the

University of Dhaka The University of Dhaka (), also known as Dhaka University (DU), is a public university, public research university located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Established in 1921, it is the oldest active university in the country. The University of Dhaka w ...

in 1942 and 1944, respectively. He earned his Ph.D. degree from

Pennsylvania State University The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State or PSU) is a Public university, public Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related Land-grant university, land-grant research university with campuses and facilities throughout Pennsyl ...

in 1948.

Career

Ahmed joined the Department of Chemistry of the University of Dhaka in 1948 as a senior lecturer. He was also a member of both the Senate and the Syndicate of the

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology The Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology () commonly known by its acronym BUET, is a public technological research university in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. Founded in 1876 as the Dacca Survey School and gaining univer ...

(BUET). Ahmed was appointed the first vice-chancellor of

and served from 24 September 1970 – 1 February 1972. In 1987, he headed the National Education Commission (popularly called Mafiz Commission after him). He was also appointed chairman of the BCSIR. After the expiry of his term as the chairman of BCSIR, Ahmed returned to the Department of Chemistry. He was appointed as an emeritus professor of the Department of Chemistry at

Dhaka University The University of Dhaka (), also known as Dhaka University (DU), is a public research university located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Established in 1921, it is the oldest active university in the country. The University of Dhaka was founded in 1921 ...

in 1988 and continued in this position until his death in 1997. Ahmed was the founder president of the Bangladesh Chemical Society, established in 1972.

Awards

* Tamgha-e-Pakistan (1966) *

Independence Day Award The Independence Award (), formally known as the Independence Day Award or Swadhinata Padak (), is the highest state award given by the government of Bangladesh. Introduced in 1977 by President Ziaur Rahman, this award is bestowed upon Banglade ...

(1986) * Bangladesh Chemical Society Gold Medal (1988)

References

1920s births 1997 deaths People from Tangail District University of Dhaka alumni Eberly College of Science alumni Academic staff of the University of Dhaka Recipients of the Independence Award Vice-chancellors of Jahangirnagar University Fellows of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences {{Bangladesh-academic-bio-stub