Fellow

Dr. Mohammad Rafi Khan (Deceased)

(Fellow, 1975)

Mohammad Rafi Khan (M R Khan) was born at Rasulpur, Satkhira, Bangladesh on the 1st August, 1928. His father Late Al Haj Abdul Bari Khan was renowned for his voluntary social services. His mother Late Zaira Khanam was also a helping hand for the destitute and woman-folk in Satkhira.

Dr. Khan was a student of Calcutta Presidency College as a Mohosin Scholar. He graduated (MBBS) from Calcutta Medical College in 1952. He got his post graduation degrees viz. DTM&H (Edinburgh, 1957), DCH (London, 1957), MRCP (Edinburgh, 1962), FCPS (Bangladesh, 1974) and FRCP (Edinburgh, 1978). PhD (BSMMU, 2011).

Dr. M. R. Khan was Associate Prof. of Medicine, Dhaka Medical College, 1963-64; Associate Prof. of Paediatrics, Rajshahi Medical College, 1964-69; Associate Prof. of Paediatrics, Dhaka Medical College, 1969-70; Prof. of Paediatrics, Dhaka Medical College, 1970-73; Prof. & Joint Director, Instt. of Postgraduate Medicine & Research (IPGM&R), 1973-78. He was Prof. of Paed. and Director, Dhaka Shishu (children) Hospital, 1978-79. Prof. of Paediatrics, IPGM&R, 1979-88, Examiner, FCPS (Paediatrics) Exam. in Karachi, 1968-1970 & in Lahore, 1993. He retired from public services in August, 1988. He was the Founder President of Bangladesh Paediatric Association. He was called “Father of Paediatrics in Bangladesh”. He was a Senior Visiting Professor at icddr,b from 1989 until his death. He was also Professor and Founder Director and Chairman at the Institute of Child Health and Shishu Hospital, Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh. He was the Vice-Chairman, Jatiya Samaj Kalyan Parishad of the Ministry of Social Welfare; Chairman of Polio Eradication Certification Committee of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It may be mentioned here that he first introduced vaccines against Polio, Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus in Bangladesh in January, 1965 using ‘Qurtro Virilon’ a combined vaccine, produced by Hoechst.

For outstanding social work and contribution to child health, Prof. Khan was awarded the following: 1986 Gold Medal by Satkhira Children Hospital; 1992 Gold Medal by Sher-E-Bangla Jatiyo Smrity Sangsad; 1993 Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam National Award and Gold Medal; 1993 Moulana Tarko Baghis Gold Medal Award; 1994 Moulana Bhashani Gold Medal; 1995 Ex Chief Minister Abu  Hossain Sarker National Award and Gold Medal; 1997 Poet Sorojine Naidu Gold Medal; 1998 Khan Bahadur Ahsanullah Gold Medal; 1999 March, Ibn Sina Gold Medal; 1999 Gold Medal by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Govt. of Peoples Republic of Bangladesh; 2006 Gold Medal by-“DHARA” a Social & Cultural Organization in Bangladesh; 2006 Gold Medal by Association of Physician Bangladesh; 2008 Sandoz Gold Medal for valuable contribution in health sector; 2009 Ekushey Gold Medal Award for Social Service; and 2011 Gold Medal from Bangladesh Academy of Sciences.

Dr. Khan has also been reconginzed for his social works and contribution   to child health: 1987-Prof. Khan’s Biography has been included in the International WHO is WHO of Intellectuals (7th edition) published by Biographical Centre (IBC) Cambridge, U.K; 1990-award by Satkhira Press Club; 1991-Award by Satkhira Jono Samity; 1991-Award by Association of Paediatrics from South East Asia Region, Manila; 1992-Award by World Astrological Society; 1994-Award by Bangladesh Paediatric Association; 1995-Award by Government of Bangladesh as National Professor; 2006-Nawab Salimullah Award; 2006-Award by Bangladesh Paediatric Association; 2007-Awarded Scholar of the Year, 2007 by Non Resident Bangladeshi (NRB); 2008-Award by Destiny.

Professor Khan has published about 38 research work in different Scientific Journals. He is author and co-author of 9 Academic and popular books on child health. Professor Khan was associated with the establishement of a number of social voluntary development organizations. Among those are:

(1) Shishu Sasthya Foundation, Bangladesh: It was established in 1983, through which some 0.5 million women and children are receiving direct services in the field of health, nutrition, education, micro credit, environment etc through its field and centre-based programme. Presently, some 6,000 women are provided microcredit support for small-scale income generation activities. Under this organization, a number of institutions have been established, such as (a) Shishu Hospital (ICH-SH), Mirpur, Dhaka: Established in 1995. Each year some 186,000 children are being provided services through its 150 bed in-patient departments, out-patient departments and diagnostic services. Every day about 600 children get services at the out-patient & patient departments. (b) Institute of Child Health, Mirpur, Dhaka: Since 2006, the institute is conducting postgraduate diploma course in child health i.e. DCH.  (c) Institute of Nursing, Mirpur, Dhaka. Established in 2008 to provide diploma in nursing to about 20 students each year, aimed to fill-up the gaps in nursing services in the country. (d) Shishu Hospital, Jashore: A 50-bed children Hospital established in 2000. Currently, the hospital is providing services to about 50,000 child patients each year, through its in patient, out-patient and diagnostic departments. (e) Vocational Training Centre (VTC), Sathkira: Each year some 165 working children are being graduated in 8 vocational trade courses viz. Electrical, Turning, Carpentry, Dressmaking and Light Engine, Audio Visual, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration and Computer courses since 2000. (f) Support Centre for under privileged children in Satkhira: To provide microcredit, health and nutrition supported non-formal functional education, the centre was established in 1995. Since then, in every two years some 150 working children are being provided support for self reliance and are prepared for a vocational training course in VTC, Satkhira.

(2) Sathkhira Shishu Hospital:  1988, the hospital was established, on Dr. Khan’s family land with his pension money. This 20-bed Children Hospital is currently providing services to some 25,000 child patients, through its in patient, out-patient and diagnostic departments each year.

(3) Other Institutions: A number of educational institutions including Rasulpur Secondary School and Medical College for Women and Hospital, Uttara, Dhaka. This first Women Medical College in the country was established in 1992.

(4) Hospitals: Dr. Khan established hospitals including Nebedita Nursing Home, Dhaka and Central Hospital Ltd.  Dhaka- one of the largest & modern hospitals in the private sector.

(5) Dr. M R Khan and Anwara Trust: With all his pensions and gratuity fund obtained from public service, Dr. Khan established the Trust after his retirement. Through this trust assistance is  provided to different mosques, schools, hospitals and a number of destitute women & children in Satkhira and other places as well as different social welfare activities.

This Trust Fund awards Gold Medal to individuals for their outstanding contribution in the field of social and economic  development in the country. Some of the awardees are Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Grameen Bank; Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, BRAC; Ms Velori Taylor, CRP. Ms. Angela Gomez, Banchte Shekha; Dr. Sultana Zaman, Kalyani Foundation and Late Tahera Kabir. Shishu Bandhu Gold Medal (in the name of National Prof. M. R. Khan) has been given to Prof. Nazmun Naher, a well known paediatrician and President BCPS.

Professor Khan expired on 05 November 2016.