The School of Data and Sciences of BRAC University organised a daylong event on the university’s Mohakhali campus on 14 March 2023 (Pi day) celebrating the life of Professor Jamal Nazrul Islam, a renowned Bangladeshi physicist and mathematician.
Professor JN Islam was a pioneer in theoretical physics and mathematics and dedicated his life to establish a world class centre for fundamental research in Bangladesh. The event was to honour Prof. Jamal's contributions to science and education and to inspire young scientists to follow in his footsteps. Professor Jamal Nazrul Islam inspired a generation of scientists in Bangladesh. He returned from Cambridge in the 1980s and founded the Research Centre for Mathematical and Physical Sciences at the University of Chittagong. He held positions at prestigious institutions such as the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Italy and served as a Professor Emeritus at the University of Chittagong. He received the Ekushey Padak award in 1985, the highest civilian honour in Bangladesh, and was recognized for his significant contributions to mathematics and science.
Distinguished speakers, including Dr. Mohammed Abul Mansur Chowdhury, a former Professor of the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh and Director of the Jamal Nazrul Islam Research Centre for Mathematical and Physical Sciences at the University of Chittagong, Dr. Anjan Kumar Chowdhury, current Director of the centre, Dr. A F M Yusuf Haider, Chairman of the Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at BRAC University, and Dr. Sadia Hamid Kazi, Chairman of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering of BRAC University, shared their personal experiences with Professor Islam and highlighted his dedication to popularising mathematical and physics research and education in Bangladesh.
The event began with a keynote speech from Dr. Mohammad Kaykobad, a distinguished professor of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, who highlighted the importance of scientific research and encouraged the youth to represent Bangladesh in pure science academia.
In a video message, Prof. Mahbub Alam Mazumder, Dean of the School of Data and Sciences, shared how Prof. Islam encouraged him to come to Cambridge and pursue scientific research. He also stated that the day will be celebrated every year and proposed initiating a Jamal Nazrul Islam award for young researchers in mathematical sciences to be given out on this occasion.
Ms Sadaf Saaz Siddiqi, Trustee at BRAC University and the daughter of Prof. Jamal, spoke about Professor Jamal Nazrul Islam's dedication to his country and fond memories of growing up in an intellectually stimulating environment with discourse, music, poetry and literature and dance fostered by Prof. Islam.
Later in the day, technical discussions were held relevant to the works of Jamal Nazrul Islam, with speeches targeting young minds to inspire the next generation of scientists.
This included Operator Complexity and Cosmology by Dr Shajid Haque, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics at the University of Cape Town and a visiting faculty at BRAC University, and Non-commutative Landau Problem in Gauge Theory by Dr Syed Hasibul Hassan Chowdhury, Professor of the Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at BRAC University. Dr Anjun Kumar Chowdhury shed light on some of the unsolved problems from Professor Islam. The technical sessions ended with an insightful and rigorous talk on the Violation of the Landau-Yang Theorem from Infrared effects by Dr M. Arshad Momen, a Professor of Independent University, Bangladesh.
The event concluded with an insightful and lively discussion amongst prominent scientists and students from fundamental sciences backgrounds. Dr. Tibra Ali, Associate Dean of the School of Data and Sciences, shared his encounters with Professor Islam in his Cambridge days. At the end, Ms. Sadaf Saaz Siddiqi awarded a token of appreciation to the guests and speakers.
The event acted as a converging place for scientists and students from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Independent University, Bangladesh, Islamic University of Technology, Bangladesh University of Textiles, and others, emphasising the importance of scientific research and inspiring the next generation of scientists. It is expected that more initiatives will also be taken up by other organisations to remember this great scientist.