Prof Dr ABM Abdullah: A veteran physician and academician

Professor ABM Abdullah has penned six medical books which have been published nationally and internationally. The books have been added in the curricula of Bangladesh and expanded to Indian sub-continent and many other countries such as Singapore, UK etc. A number of achievement awards are added as the feathers in his cap:
1.    UGC (University Grants Commission) award 2013: For the book "Short Cases in Clinical Medicine", which was regarded as the best book of the year.
2.    Ekushey Padak 2016: For research work in medical science. It is one of the most prestigious state awards.
3.    Mercantile Bank Award 2016:  For valuable contribution in medical science.
4.    Bangla Darpan shonma-nona 2016: For special contribution in medical science.
He has a handful amount of writings in the renowned daily newspapers of the country about general and emerging health problems. Till now, more than 300 columns have been published. All the important columns were compiled in a book entitled "Shasthyo Bishoyok Nirbachito Column" in Bangla, which is enormously popular and highly appreciated among the general population.
Professor ABM Abdullah is currently a Professor and Chairman in the department of Internal Medicine and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. This doctor is one of a kind who takes only 300 taka visit from his patients. He takes time for each patient from his busy schedule. On asking about this, he says, "For higher amount of visiting fees of the doctors, many patients go to the technician of the pharmacy for treatment. As a result, they do not get proper treatment and in most cases, they end up getting wrong treatment. I want to be accessible to patients from all socio-economic class. We became doctor to serve the humanity but at the same time, since it is our only source of income, we take the visit."
"I am a professor. I get the opportunity to teach around 100-120 students in my classroom. I do not want my knowledge to be limited within them. I want to expand and share my knowledge all over the country and the world. This was my main objective for writing the books. I want my knowledge to be documented for future generation as well. I have written six academic books. The books are not theoretical. They are practical oriented; therefore, all the books are the integration of theoretical aspects and practical knowledge. Hence, they have got a wider acceptance among the students."
He has built a masjid of 4400 square feet on his own land at his village Hariabari, Islampur upazila in Jamalpur district with all kinds of facilities.  He has also set up a hafiziya madrasa in his village where the children of the day laborers, rickshaw pullers, and farmers get education. He has been running it for fifteen years. Many of them are recruited in masjids, and madrasas. On an average eighty students enroll every year. Adjacent to the madrasa, he has set up a community clinic on his own land. Government provides its support but that support is not enough to ensure health care for all. He has recruited staff and provided them with emergency equipments such as nebulizer, diabetes test machine, blood pressure monitor machine, medicines etc.
Bangladesh is lagging behind in terms of research, to some extent, it is true. Due to the lack of government funding and other limitations as a developing country, the progress of scientific research is very slow. I should not say we do not have any research at all, we have, you can see the progress in the medical research field in the newspapers and television channels. Many researchers are being awarded for their valuable works. But the number is very limited, mostly are done by personal funding or international funding.
"Be a good doctor and be a good human being. Do not just pass out to become a practicing doctor. Before becoming a doctor, groom yourself with humanitarian values. Remember you are here to serve the humanity; medical profession is a noble profession. It's of no use, if you bring even Nobel Prize for your research and invention but you are not a good human being. You are not a good doctor, if you do not take care of your patients with love and care. Your patient expects good behavior from you. A patient gets the mental strength to fight the diseases, if he or she gets motivation from his or her doctor. A communication gap is rising between the patients and the doctors. Somewhat, the present doctors are struggling with back the trust of the patients back. Our profession is related to life and death, so try to win the trust of your patients first."
Every year, new form of treatments and technologies are emerging. Doctors must be updated with the current studies and technologies.


Awards
UGC (University Grants Commission) award 2013

Ekushey Padak 2016

Mercantile Bank Award 2016

Bangla Darpan shonma-nona 2016

Honorary fellowship of Bangla Academy 2017.