Renowned historian and the first professor emeritus of Rajshahi University (RU), Dr Abul Bashar Mosarraf Hossain, is no more. He was aged 86.
He breathed his last at the Bangladesh Specialized Hospital in the capital at 2am on Saturday while undergoing treatment.
Dr Mahfuzur Rahman Akhand, a professor of Islamic History and Culture of the university, confirmed the matter to The Business Post.
Dr ABM Hossain, an expert in Islamic arts, was born in 1934 in the village of Dhamati in Debidwar upazila of Cumilla district. After graduating from Debidwar High School, Cumilla Victoria College and the University of Dhaka with first class bachelor's (honours) and master's degrees, he obtained bachelor's (honours) and PhD degrees in history and Islamic archeology from the University of London in 1958 and 1960, respectively.
Dr ABM Hossain started teaching at RU in 1960 and became a full professor in 1972. He later became the head of the department of Islamic History and Culture, chairman, dean of the arts faculty and various other important administrative posts. In 2001, Dr Hossain was honored as the first professor emeritus of RU.
Dr ABM Hossain is an honourary life fellow of Bangladesh Asiatic Society and Bangla Academy. The number of his research books is 11. In 1977, the Norwegian parliament elected him a nominee to the Nobel Peace Prize Board.
