Bangladesh Medical University has dismissed eminent physician and medicine specialist Professor Dr ABM Abdullah from his position as Emeritus Professor, while also ordering him to return all salaries and benefits received under the post.
The decision was announced in an official order signed by the university registrar on Wednesday (June 24). It is worth noting that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University was renamed Bangladesh Medical University on August 5, 2024.
According to the office order, Dr Abdullah had been appointed as Emeritus Professor for life following an amendment to the “Emeritus Professor Appointment Ordinance” during the university syndicate’s 92nd budget session on June 20, 2024. That appointment has now been revoked.
Reacting to the decision, Dr Abdullah said, “It was an honorable position that went through five stages of approval. Today, I have been informed that it has been canceled. This has been done out of sheer stubbornness.”
He added, “The university administration has treated me unfairly. I am not politically involved anywhere. Does treating Sheikh Hasina make me a bad person?”
Dr Abdullah is a well-known figure in Bangladesh’s medical community, having contributed to healthcare, medical education, and research for nearly five decades. In 2016, he was awarded the Ekushey Padak for his outstanding contributions to medical science and research.
He completed his MBBS from Dhaka Medical College and later obtained MRCP from the United Kingdom and FRCP from the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
His contributions to medical education are also significant. His books, including Short Cases in Clinical Medicine, Long Cases in Clinical Medicine, and ECG in Medical Practice, have long been widely used by medical students. He has also written more than 300 health-related columns in national newspapers.
Dr Abdullah has also earned international recognition. He serves on the International Advisory Boards of two globally renowned medical textbooks — Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine (24th edition), often referred to as the “Bible of Medicine,” and Kumar and Clark’s Clinical Medicine.
Currently, he is the only Bangladeshi physician serving simultaneously on the advisory boards of both prestigious medical texts. Many of his authored and edited books have been published by internationally acclaimed publishers, including Elsevier (London) and Jaypee Brothers (New Delhi).
His notable works include Short Cases in Clinical Medicine, Long Cases in Clinical Medicine, ECG in Medical Practice, Case History and Data Interpretation in Medical Practice, Radiology in Medical Practice, Practical Manual in Clinical Medicine, Practical Standard Prescriber, Medicine Update (edited), and various editions of the Clinical Medicine Series.
Despite losing his emeritus position through an administrative decision, those close to the medical community believe his contributions to medicine, education, and research will remain an important chapter in Bangladesh’s healthcare history.
