Fellow

Dr. Amir Hussain Khan

(Fellow, 1993)

Dr. Amir Hussain Khan was born on 23 January, 1938 at Kalikha, Mymensingh.

He had his early education at the R. K. High School, Gouripur (Matriculation, 1954) and Ananda Mohan College, Mymensingh (I.Sc and B.Sc). He obtained M. Sc. in Chemistry, University of Dhaka, 1962. He pursued higher studies in Canada and graduated from the Honours School of Chemistry, McGill University, Canada, 1966, and obtained Ph.D. in Nuclear Chemistry, McGill University, 1968, as a Colombo Plan Scholar.

Dr. Khan joined the erstwhile Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission in 1963 and was promoted to the post of Senior Scientific Officer in 1968.  After independence of Bangladesh, Dr. Khan, on return from Spain on official duty, joined the Atomic Energy Centre, Dhaka (AECD) and then continued his service in the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) where he was subsequently promoted to the post of Principal Scientific Officer, 1975 and Chief Scientific Officer, 1980. During his service in the BAEC, Dr. Khan was the Head, Chemistry Division, AECD (1976–1993), part-time teacher, Department of Chemistry, Jahangirnagar University since 1976, Director, Atomic Energy Centre, Dhaka (1993–1994) and Member, Board of Advanced Studies, Jahangirnagar University, 1994. Dr. Khan joined the University of Dhaka  as Professor of Chemistry in March, 1994.

He had Post-doctoral research fellowship in the Spanish Atomic Energy Commission, Madrid, Spain, 1971-1972; Nuclear Research Centre, Debrecen, Hungary, 1984; and the Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Den Burg, the Netherlands, (Senior EEC Fellowship), 1991-1992. IAEA Visiting Scientist, Mol. Nuclear Research Centre, Ghent University and Antwerp University, Belgium, 1980.

His research areas include Fundamental studies in Nuclear Science & Technology Nuclear Charge dispersion phenomena in fission of 238U and 235U with high energy protons, Nuclear Spectroscopy in isotopic composition studies of Uranium and Thorium and Chemical Spectroscopy of Uranium and Plutonium for isotopic analysis and Emission Spectrography of Rare Earth Elements (REE) for impurity analysis in Nuclear Fuels, Marine Chemistry and Heavy metal pollution and Metal-organic integrations for chemical speciation in Sea Water (Bay of Bengal). Professor Khan’s research interests and experience are in the fields of Nuclear and Radiochemistry (Nuclear Fission and Radioisotopes), Analytical and Applied Atomic Spectroscopy, (Theory and Applications),  Analytical X-ray spectroscopy (PIXE, XRF, TXRF)  Atomic Absorption and Emission Spectroscopy, (AAS, AES), Electroanalytical Chemistry and chemical speciation (ASV, DPP, CV), Trace Elements Research related to human health and environmental pollution control, materials testing for quality specifications of food & drink, clinical chemistry, industrial and forensic analyses, metal-organic interactions for chemical speciation in the Marine Environment, Environmental monitoring for Ambient Water quality classification for designated use, Analytical Chemistry of Heavy metals and pesticides residues in food and drink. He was the first principal investigator (1993) of the on-going Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Program (AQMP) in the country, with the start of the first AQM Program (2004-05) in Dhaka city with ADB assistance. 

He received the Sixth Khwarizmi International Award in the Third position in 1993 and the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences Gold Medal Award in the Senior Group in Physical Sciences in 1993, and a Certificate of Honor for best Performance in Research, by the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission.

In the Department of Chemistry, Dhaka University, Professor Khan developed the first Electroanalytical Laboratory for post-graduate research in trace element analytical chemistry in human and environmental systems including marine environment, with assistance from the Ministry of Science & Technology, GoB. In this laboratory, Professor Khan in collaboration with Professor Naila Zaman Khan of Dhaka Shishu Hospital first detected high level of lead (Pb) in children blood. This finding in combination of the AECD’s finding of high air Pb in the Dhaka city helped the GoB to introduce unleaded petrol in Bangladesh (1999).

At Plasma Plus Laboratory, the main task of Professor Khan has been to develop this laboratory as a full-fledged advanced analytical laboratory, capable to provide materials testing services of ISO standard required by Bangladesh. It has achieved this standard by ISO 17025 certification in specific areas of Food and Drinks, Pharmaceuticals, Textile and Environment and is now providing testing services in these areas to both public and private organizations as well as  international organizations in Dhaka  such as FAO, USP. 

Professor Khan published more than 100 scientific papers in national and international journals of repute, Co-author of a bibliography of Medical Elementology in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, Contributed a Chapter (Chapter 3) to the Proceedings of the International Symposium on ‘Arsenic Calamity of Groundwater in Bangladesh: Contamination of Soil, Water and Plants’, held in Dhaka, 2008, edited by Dr. Kingshuk Roy, Nihon University, Japan.

He was the Editor, Journal of Nuclear Science and Applications for a long time and was a Member of the Editorial Board, Journal of the Bangladesh Chemical Society (2005) and Editor of JBCS (2002-2003) and Member of the Editorial Board, J. Bangladesh Acad. Sci. (2013-14). Dr. Khan edited the Atomic Energy Programmes in Bangladesh, 1983 and the First Perspective Plan (1993 - 2010) of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, 1993. At present Professor Khan is a Member of the Editorial Board, J.  Sustainable Environment and Development, SUB.

Professor Khan was appointed in 2004 as the first full time Director of the Centre for Advanced Research in Physical, Chemical, Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences (named as Centre of Excellence), Dhaka University, to make the newly constructed centre fully operational by establishing six laboratories in relevant subjects, a cafeteria and a guest house, within two years of his  contractual appointment; the task was successfully completed  in full terms by the end of October, 2006.

From 2007 to date Professor Khan has been in the position of Chief Scientist and Head of Laboratory, Plasma Plus Application & Research Laboratory, an ISO Certified Advanced Analytica Laboratory for materials testing and services, first of its kind in Bangladesh in the private sector. Along this he has been an Adjunct Faculty and Advisor to the Department Environmental Science, State University of Bangladesh (SUB), since 2004.

He participated, as the Chief Investigator, in several internationally coordinated applied research programmes supported by the  International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, UNDP and the Regional Cooperative Agreement in South-East Asia and the Pacific Region (RCA), UNDP-TOKTEN program for knowledge transfer through expatriate nationals, since 1976. Some of the major activities include : (i) development of Proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF and TXRF) analyses, as new frontline nuclear and nuclear-related trace element analytical methodologies, (ii) atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) for ultratrace analysis, and (iii)  Computerized Voltammetric analyses for  trace  elements analysis and chemical speciation, required in health-related environmental research, foodstuff and drinking water quality control, animal productivity and atmospheric pollution and solid wastes management. Dr. Khan took the leadership responsibility to firmly establish this new branch of Analytical Science–Trace Element Analysis and Research for sustainable development in the Chemistry Division and the Van de Graff Accelerator Laboratories at the Atomic Energy Centre, Dhaka, the two leading laboratories in the country and pioneered Trace Element Analytical Science and Research in Bangladesh.

Professor Amir Hussain Khan was one of the Founder Members of the International Society for Trace Element Research in Humans, USA (1984). He was a Post-Graduate Student Member, Society of the Sigma XI, USA, for promotion of research in science (1963-1968), Sectional President, Chemistry and Applied Chemistry, BAAS (1988 – 1989), President, Bangladesh Environmental Society (1993 – 1994). Life Member, Bangladesh Chemical Society (1972), Member, Bangladesh Physical Society (1972) and Bangladesh Association for the Advancement of Science (1973).