The IRRI family is deeply shocked and saddened by the sudden and untimely demise of Dr. Muhammad Murshedul Alam who was one of our dearest colleagues at IRRI Bangladesh Office. He passed away in the afternoon of 23 November 2021 at his residence in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Dr. Alam was working as the Senior Associate Scientist (Agronomy) until his last breath. On behalf of IRRI, Dr. Humnath Bhandari, IRRI Representative for Bangladesh, attended Dr. Alam’s funeral held at Bangladesh Rice Research Institute and conveyed deepest sympathy and condolences to Dr. Alam’s family members, relatives and colleagues.
Dr. Alam has a long and strong association with IRRI. He was an MS and PhD scholar of IRRI in the 1980’s and 90’s, and he was an IRRI Post-Doctoral Fellow from 2002 to 2004. Since 2007, he had been working in IRRI Bangladesh Office as an Agronomist, and he was the Senior Associate Scientist - Research Platform Coordination for CSISA III when he died.
Dr. Alam was a distinguished agronomist in Bangladesh. He was associated with IRRI for more than 30 years and spent many years working with many people from many countries at IRRI Philippines and IRRI Bangladesh Office. Dr. Alam was not only a great scientist but also a very kind hearted and helpful person. He made big scientific contributions to IRRI by working in different projects such as CSISA, RCM, AWD, mechanization, and many others. He managed the CSISA project for many years very successfully. Also, he contributed a lot in the capacity building of many rice scientists.
“Dr. Alam was like my brother”, says Dr. J.K. Ladha (retired IRRI Soil Scientist) with whom Dr. Alam spent most of his time at IRRI. “Among my students, he was the best. He was an intelligent agronomist who knew the problems faced by the Bangladeshi farmers. He always worked for the farmers to improve their well-being. He established a CSISA platform in Gazipur which he ran very ably. When we used to go to the farmers’ fields in Bangladesh, Dr. Alam always bought cooked food for me from his home. Dr. Alam was the most caring and humble person I have ever interacted with. I will never forget Dr. Alam”, added Dr. Ladha.
Dr. Alam was an incredible asset to IRRI and his sudden demise is a big loss at a time when he had so much more to contribute to the IRRI projects. IRRI is appreciative and grateful for his stewardship, commitment, dedication for well over a decade of service. He will forever remain in our memories as a dedicated rice scientist and a great human being. The entire IRRI family expresses heartfelt gratitude for Dr. Alam’s contribution in the rice sector of Bangladesh and South Asia.
On 24 November 2021, IRRI Bangladesh Office held a memorial and group prayer for Dr. Alam where all of our colleagues recalled the sweet memories of Dr. Alam with heavy eyes. Our thoughts and prayers are with Dr. Alam’s family members on this irreparable loss. May Dr. Alam’s departed soul rest in peace.
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