Jute genome decoder Maqsudul passes away
Maqsudul Alam, a Bangladesh-born scientist who shot to fame for his work in jute genome sequencing, died of liver cirrhosis at the age of 60 at a hospital in the United States yesterday.
A professor at the University of Hawaii, Maqsudul earned global fame after he and his team discovered the genome sequence of “Tossa” jute in June, 2010, opening up a new vista in the development of varieties of the world's most adorned biodegradable natural fibre.
He earlier decoded the genome of papaya in the US and rubber plant in Malaysia, through which he came into spotlight in the scientific fraternity and made headlines in the world's leading scientific journals in 2008 and 2009.
Born in Faridpur, Maqsudul, whose father was martyred in the Liberation War of the nation, pursued higher studies and advanced research in Russia, Germany and USA, and had a knack for studying the growth and development of various plants even in his childhood days.
US papaya trade got a boost, thanks to him and his team's endeavour in sequencing its gene mapping helping papaya growers fight diseases that used to play havoc with papaya production. His success in rubber plant genome sequencing was also appreciated in Malaysia and the world at large.
Jute genome sequencing initiative began in February 2008 when the scientist started exploring the possibilities with several other Bangladeshi scientists and academics.
The whole process was kicked off with many long conference calls between Maqsudul and plant molecular biologists Prof Haseena Khan and Prof Zeba Seraj of the departments of biochemistry and molecular biology of Dhaka University. Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury then took special interests in bringing Maqsudul home and the government sanctioned a good budget to facilitate the jute genome sequencing.
Three years into the successful genome sequencing of Tossa jute, Bangladeshi scientists under the leadership of Maqsudul unravelled the genome sequence of deshi (white) jute last year.
With liver problems, he was admitted to Queen's Medical Center in Hawaii on December 2, and was undergoing treatment there since, his brother Mahbubul Alam Babu told The Daily Star.
He breathed his last yesterday around 2:18am (Bangladesh time). He left behind his wife, two daughters, a host of relatives, followers and well-wishers to mourn his death.
The scientist will be buried at Hawaii Memorial Park Cemetery near his laboratory, Alam's Laboratory, today.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock at the death of Maqsudul, reports news agency UNB quoting the PM's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad.
A qulkhwani will be held at his sister's house in the capital's Lalmatia on Wednesday after the Maghrib prayers.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Rowshan Ershad and Dhaka University Vice-chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique also expressed their condolences to the bereaved family.
Comments