| Syed Modasser Ali | |
|---|---|
Syed Modasser Ali |
|
| Born | 1 February 1946 Gopalganj District, Bangladesh |
| Education | Dhaka Medical College |
| Known for | Community Ophthalmology |
| Profession | Eye Surgeon |
| Institutions | Bangladesh Government, WHO, National Institute of Ophthalmology, Dhaka University |
| Specialism | Anterior segment surgery, Cataract, Public Health |
| Research | Community Ophthalmology |
| Notable prizes | WHO World No Tobacco Day Award 2010,[1] BCOS Lifetime Achievement Award 2008,[2] |
Syed Modasser Ali FRCS, FRCOpth is an ophthalmic surgeon from Bangladesh and a former Executive Board member [3] of the World Health Organisation. He is the founder of Mojibunnessa Eye Hospital, the first registered [4] eye hospital in Bangladesh. He is regarded as one of the pioneers of Community Ophthalmology (public eye health) and his book titled 'Community Ophthalmology' published in 1985 is considered by the British Journal of Ophthalmology as the first textbook on the subject.[5] He is a recipient of Bangladesh National Personality Research Centre's Freedom Fighter Award for his services during the Bangladesh Liberation War.[6] He is also an adviser to the current Bangladeshi prime minister, Sheikh Hasina.[7][8]
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Prof. Ali is currently serving as the Health and Family Welfare and Social Welfare adviser to the Bangladeshi prime minister with the full rank and status of a senior cabinet minister.[9][10] He is one of seven advisers (one of only five with a portfolio) to the government providing the prime minister and the cabinet advise on various national and international issues.[11][12] He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council, the highest political authority for consideration of development projects in Bangladesh.
He was the Director-General [13] of Health Services for the Bangladesh government in 2001, Dean of the Faculty of Postgraduate Medicine and Research at Dhaka University from 1998 to 2001, Chairman of the Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC) [14] from 1998 to 2003 and Director (and Professor Emeritus) of the National Institute of Ophthalmology [15] in Dhaka, Bangladesh from 1997 to 2001. He was also the president of the Ophthalmic Society of Bangladesh. Under his chairmanship BMRC was awarded the prestigious WHO 50th Anniversary Primary Healthcare Development Award in 1998.[16]
Prof. Ali has been a lifelong anti-smoking campaigner and played a central role in the banning of smoking in public places [17] in his home country of Bangladesh where nearly 50% of adults use tobacco for recreational purposes.[18] In his capacity as the health and family welfare adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh he is overseeing changes in existing laws to fully comply with the provisions of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.[19] He was awarded the WHO World No Tobacco Day Award 2010 for his work on tobacco control.[1] He is currently the Vice President of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) representing the WHO South-East Asia Region.[20]
While studying for his medical degree at Dhaka Medical College Dr Ali was elected as the Vice President of Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of Bangladesh Awami League. However, since then he has terminated any official affiliation with the Awami League, but has been the personal physician of the current Awami League president, Sheikh Hasina. He was active in negotiations with the Bangladesh caretaker government regarding sending Hasina, who was detained on corruption charges, abroad for treatment,[21][22][23][24] and threatened to sue the Bangladesh caretaker government over negligence regarding Hasina's treatment during her detention.[25] He is currently serving as a government adviser to Sheikh Hasina, the current prime minister of Bangladesh,[26] and was involved in the formulation of the Prime Minister's peace model presented at the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly.[27]
Prof. Ali has authored several books on community ophthalmology and politics.
Prof. Ali was born in Gopalganj, Bangladesh in 1946. He is married and has three children.