Syed Modasser Ali
Encyclopedia
Syed Modasser Ali FRCS, FRCOpth is an ophthalmic
surgeon from Bangladesh
and a former Executive Board member of the World Health Organisation. He is the founder of Mojibunnessa Eye Hospital
, the first registered eye hospital in Bangladesh
. He is regarded as one of the pioneers of Community Ophthalmology (public eye health
) and his book titled 'Community Ophthalmology' published in 1985 is considered by the British Journal of Ophthalmology as the first textbook on the subject. He is a recipient of Bangladesh National Personality Research Centre's Freedom Fighter Award for his services during the Bangladesh Liberation War
. He is also an adviser to the current Bangladeshi prime minister, Sheikh Hasina
.
minister
. He is one of seven advisers (one of only five with a portfolio) to the government providing the prime minister and the cabinet advise on various national and international issues. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council, the highest political authority for consideration of development projects in Bangladesh.
He was the Director-General of Health Services for the Bangladesh
government in 2001, Dean
of the Faculty of Postgraduate Medicine and Research at Dhaka University from 1998 to 2001, Chairman of the Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC) from 1998 to 2003 and Director (and Professor Emeritus) of the National Institute of Ophthalmology in Dhaka
, Bangladesh
from 1997 to 2001. He was also the president of the Ophthalmic Society of Bangladesh. Under his chairmanship BMRC was awarded the prestigious WHO
50th Anniversary Primary Healthcare Development Award in 1998.
Prof. Ali has been a lifelong anti-smoking campaigner and played a central role in the banning of smoking in public places in his home country of Bangladesh
where nearly 50% of adults use tobacco for recreational purposes. In his capacity as the health and family welfare adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh he is overseeing changes in existing laws to fully comply with the provisions of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. He was awarded the WHO
World No Tobacco Day Award 2010 for his work on tobacco control. He is currently the Vice President of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) representing the WHO South-East Asia Region.
, the student wing of Bangladesh Awami League
. However, since then he has terminated any official affiliation with the Awami League, but has been the personal physician of the current Awami League president, Sheikh Hasina
. He was active in negotiations with the Bangladesh
caretaker government regarding sending Hasina, who was detained on corruption charges, abroad for treatment, and threatened to sue the Bangladesh caretaker government over negligence regarding Hasina's treatment during her detention. He is currently serving as a government adviser to Sheikh Hasina
, the current prime minister of Bangladesh, and was involved in the formulation of the Prime Minister's peace model presented at the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly
.
and politics
.
in 1946. He is married and has three children.
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...
surgeon from Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
and a former Executive Board member of the World Health Organisation. He is the founder of Mojibunnessa Eye Hospital
Mojibunnessa Eye Hospital
Mojibunnessa Eye Hospital is a specialist eye hospital in Bangladesh founded in 1981 by Dr Syed Modasser Ali. It is the first commercially registered eye hospital in Bangladesh and the first hospital in the country to provide Phacoemulsification, a specialised form of cataract surgery.- External...
, the first registered eye hospital in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. He is regarded as one of the pioneers of Community Ophthalmology (public eye health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
) and his book titled 'Community Ophthalmology' published in 1985 is considered by the British Journal of Ophthalmology as the first textbook on the subject. He is a recipient of Bangladesh National Personality Research Centre's Freedom Fighter Award for his services during the Bangladesh Liberation War
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....
. He is also an adviser to the current Bangladeshi prime minister, Sheikh Hasina
Sheikh Hasina
Sheikh Hasina is a Bangladeshi politician and current Prime Minister of Bangladesh. She has been the President of the Awami League, a major political party, since 1981. She is the eldest of five children of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh and widow of a reputed nuclear...
.
Career
Prof. Ali is currently serving as the Health and Family Welfare and Social Welfare adviser to the Bangladeshi prime minister with the full rank and status of a senior cabinetCabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
. He is one of seven advisers (one of only five with a portfolio) to the government providing the prime minister and the cabinet advise on various national and international issues. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council, the highest political authority for consideration of development projects in Bangladesh.
He was the Director-General of Health Services for the Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
government in 2001, Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the Faculty of Postgraduate Medicine and Research at Dhaka University from 1998 to 2001, Chairman of the Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC) from 1998 to 2003 and Director (and Professor Emeritus) of the National Institute of Ophthalmology in Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
, Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
from 1997 to 2001. He was also the president of the Ophthalmic Society of Bangladesh. Under his chairmanship BMRC was awarded the prestigious WHO
Who
Who may refer to:* Who , an English-language pronoun* who , a Unix command* Who?, one of the Five Ws in journalism- Art and entertainment :* Who? , a 1958 novel by Algis Budrys...
50th Anniversary Primary Healthcare Development Award in 1998.
Prof. Ali has been a lifelong anti-smoking campaigner and played a central role in the banning of smoking in public places in his home country of Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
where nearly 50% of adults use tobacco for recreational purposes. In his capacity as the health and family welfare adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh he is overseeing changes in existing laws to fully comply with the provisions of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. He was awarded the WHO
Who
Who may refer to:* Who , an English-language pronoun* who , a Unix command* Who?, one of the Five Ws in journalism- Art and entertainment :* Who? , a 1958 novel by Algis Budrys...
World No Tobacco Day Award 2010 for his work on tobacco control. He is currently the Vice President of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) representing the WHO South-East Asia Region.
Political life
While studying for his medical degree at Dhaka Medical College Dr Ali was elected as the Vice President of Bangladesh Chhatra LeagueBangladesh Chhatra League
Bangladesh Chhatra League is the largest, oldest and drastic student political party in Bangladesh. It is the student wing of the Bangladesh Awami League. Its motto is "Education | Peace | Prosperity" and its slogan is "Joy Bangla - Joy Bangabandhu"...
, the student wing of Bangladesh Awami League
Bangladesh Awami League
The Bangladesh Awami League , commonly known as the Awami League, is the mainstream center-left, secular political party in Bangladesh...
. However, since then he has terminated any official affiliation with the Awami League, but has been the personal physician of the current Awami League president, Sheikh Hasina
Sheikh Hasina
Sheikh Hasina is a Bangladeshi politician and current Prime Minister of Bangladesh. She has been the President of the Awami League, a major political party, since 1981. She is the eldest of five children of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh and widow of a reputed nuclear...
. He was active in negotiations with the Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
caretaker government regarding sending Hasina, who was detained on corruption charges, abroad for treatment, and threatened to sue the Bangladesh caretaker government over negligence regarding Hasina's treatment during her detention. He is currently serving as a government adviser to Sheikh Hasina
Sheikh Hasina
Sheikh Hasina is a Bangladeshi politician and current Prime Minister of Bangladesh. She has been the President of the Awami League, a major political party, since 1981. She is the eldest of five children of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh and widow of a reputed nuclear...
, the current prime minister of Bangladesh, and was involved in the formulation of the Prime Minister's peace model presented at the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
.
Books
Prof. Ali has authored several books on community ophthalmologyPublic health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
and politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
.
- Community Ophthalmology, Anamoy Publishers 1985, ASINAmazon Standard Identification NumberThe Amazon Standard Identification Number is a unique identification number assigned by Amazon.com and its partners for product identification within the Amazon.com organization. Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Amazon.fr, Amazon.it, Amazon.co.jp, Amazon.cn, and Amazon.es also use ASINs.ASINs...
:B0007BNH48 - Shontrasher Majhe Boshobash (Living within terrorism), Anannya 1993, ISBN 9844120071
- Shat Dashoker Chhatra Rajniti (60s' student politics), National Publication 2003, ISBN 9847110312
Personal life
Prof. Ali was born in Gopalganj, BangladeshBangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
in 1946. He is married and has three children.