Eminent physician Dr Matiur Rahman, the founder of the discipline of nephrology in Bangladesh, passed away in a private hospital in Dhaka on the night of November 14. He was 90 years of age.
Professor Rahman’s namaz-e-janaza will be held on the November 18, Tuesday, baad Zuhr, at Azad Mosque (Gulshan Central Mosque), Gulshan Avenue, Dhaka.
He was the founding head of Nephrology in IPGMR (now Bangladesh Medical University), helped establish Bangladesh Kidney Foundation, and helped set up the first kidney transplant in Bangladesh.
He was a man of immense integrity and ability who cared deeply for people.
Born to a respected family in Nazirpur village, part of Natore, he went on to complete his MBBS from DMC and undertook his specialization in Nephrology in the UK.
Leaving aside comfort and promise of wealth in the West, he returned his family to Dhaka in 1974 because he wanted to serve his newly liberated country. And he did so with absolute dedication.
In his department, he built a reputation for excellence and ethical leadership. He was steadfast in his principles and would never allow political appointees througout the length of his career.
A former president of Bangladesh Renal Association, Dr Rahman also served as a long-term president of the Bangladesh chapter of JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency).
Professor Rahman leaves behind his two daughters and two sons and their spouses, four grandchildren and a host of admirers and well-wishers. His legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched.
