In memory of a medicine man

The first death anniversary of National Professor Dr Nurul Islam will be observed tomorrow (January 24). He dedicated most of his working life not only to further the cause of medical science in this country, but also to  improve the lot of the common people. He was the Director of the Institute of Post-graduate Medicine and Research (IPGMR), now Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU). He was the personal physician of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He was crowned with a lot of laurels viz., Independence Day Award, Bangla Academy Award, B.C. Roy award for medical science, WHO commemorative awards and gold medal for tobacco control.
Born on April 01, 1928 at the village of Chandanaish in Chittagong Dr Nurul Islam was a meritorious student from his school days. After completion of his secondary education from Gasbaria N.G.M. High School, Chandanaish, Chittagong in 1943, he completed I.Sc. from Calcutta Islamia Science College and thereafter graduated from Calcutta Medical College. He did MRCP in 1954 with government scholarship and TDD in 1955 from Wales University, London. Back home, he joined Mitford Hospital and then Dhaka Medical College as associate professor in 1958 and later on Chittagong Medical College as professor in 1962. He got Nuffield scholarship in 1963 and worked as a visiting professor in London and returned home in 1964. He joined PG institute as Joint Director in 1965 and became director of the Institute in 1966 and had been there as director and professor of medicine for 24 years.
Dr Nurul Islam was not only a renowned physician but also an organiser and social reformer. He founded the Islamic Medical Mission, Janasheba Foundation, ADHUNIK (a forum for anti-smoking campaign) and was closely associated with Hamdard Bangladesh and became the chairman of the organisation.
This visionary professor contributed significantly to the growth and development of post-graduate medical education in the country. Today, we are proud of many experts in various disciplines in the field of medical science in our country. It is known to all that his prescription was for essential and limited number of medicines.
Dr Nurul Islam founded ADHUNIK, country's first anti-tobacco organisation and waged social campaign against smoking. The movement gained momentum and subsequently many other anti-tobacco organisations emerged in the country. The role of anti-tobacco movement in Bangladesh has been recognised by the WHO (World Health Organisation)
He was a man of strong determination. National Professor M R Khan, in a condolence meeting at BSMMU after his death, told that Professor Islam was a man of so strong determination that once some of his post-graduate students started a movement to defer exam schedule. Professor Islam told them boldly, 'You could change the post of director but not the schedule of examination.' The examination was held on time.
Working with him for more than two decades we could see that devoting most of his time to work was his only pleasure. He would say that a person, who gets pleasure from his work, could never get tired with work.
We know him as a pioneer of modern medicine, but he had great love and respect for all systems of medicine. Apart from allopathy, he worked for unani-ayurved, homeopath and other natural healings as well.
He was associated with Hamdard Bangladesh for long and had been its chairman until his death. It may be mentioned that this writer got the unique opportunity of primary responsibility of preparing the Hamdard University project which was accomplished in an appropriate manner with the guidance of Dr Nurul Islam.
Bangladesh National Drug Policy 1982, formulated under his able leadership, was acclaimed at home and abroad. The national drug policy contributed hugely towards the expansion of local pharmaceutical industry, and as a result, import of unnecessary medicines was stopped. The drug policy also helped export of medicines from the country and thus created opportunity for earning of foreign currency for the country.
 He will always be remembered for his innumerable books and publications. To mention some of these: Medical Diagnosis & Treatment, Something About Health, History of IPGMR, In the Stream of Life, Some Thoughts, Tobacco: Questions & Answers, Bangabandhu-in the Eye of His Personal Physicians, Tobacco Control in Bangladesh: The man behind (compiled by Jabber & Iftekhar).
Dr. Nurul Islam is no longer with us, but his contribution to the formulation of the National Drug Policy, social movement against smoking and expansion of post-graduate medial education will be remembered by the nation forever. He was not only an expert administrator but also a social reformer, medical scientist, renowned physician and, above all, a great teacher.
The writer is executive secretary of ADHUNIK and had been a close associate of National Professor Dr Nurul Islam for more than two decades. rafiq_islam13@yahoo.com