Syed Modasser Ali: Difference between revisions

{{short description|Bangladeshi medical person and politician}}{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}

|specialism              = [[Anterior segment of eyeball|Anterior segment]] surgery, [[Cataract]], [[Public health|Public Health]]

|research_field          = [[Public Health|Community Ophthalmology]]

|known_for              = Community Ophthalmology

|prizes                  = [[WHO]] World No Tobacco Day Award 2010,<ref name="who.int">{{cite web |title=WHO World No Tobacco Day 2010 Awards – the winners |url=https://www.who.int/tobacco/wntd/2010/awards/en/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601235431/http://www.who.int/tobacco/wntd/2010/awards/en/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 June 2010 |accessdate=29 May 2010}}</ref> BCOS Lifetime Achievement Award 2008<ref>{{cite web |title=The Daily Star, Bangladesh: 8 lakh suffer from blindness |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=38850 |accessdate=26 July 2008}}</ref>

'''Syed Modasser Ali''' <small>[[FRCS]]</small>, <small>[[Ophthalmology#United Kingdom|FRCOpth]]</small> is an [[Ophthalmology|ophthalmic]] surgeon from [[Bangladesh]] and was the Health, Family Welfare and Social Welfare adviser to the Bangladeshi Prime Minister [[Sheikh Hasina]], from 2009 to 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bangladesh Government: The Prime Minister's Advisers |url=http://www.pmo.gov.bd/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=38&Itemid=365 |accessdate=8 February 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The New Nation: Move for small clean govt: Distribution of some portfolios raises questions |url=http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2009/01/07/news0118.htm |accessdate=6 January 2009}}</ref> He is the founder of Mojibunnessa Eye Hospital, the first registered<ref>{{cite web |title=Mojibunnessa Eye Hospital: About us |url=http://www.mojibunnessa-eye.com/about%20us.html |accessdate=17 September 2009}}{{dead link|date=July 2016}}</ref> eye hospital in Bangladesh and founding editor-in-chief of the ''Bangladesh Ophthalmic Journal'', the first peer-review ophthalmic journal in Bangladesh.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bangladesh Ophthalmic Journal, Volume 1 Issue 1 |url=http://bdopjon.com/pdf.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224115757/http://bdopjon.com/pdf.htm |archive-date=24 February 2015 |accessdate=24 February 2015}}</ref> He is regarded as one of the pioneers of Community Ophthalmology ([[public health|public eye health]]) and his book titled ''Community Ophthalmology'', published in 1985, is considered to be the first textbook on the subject by the ''[[British Journal of Ophthalmology]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Community Ophthalmology, Book Review, BJO |url=http://bjo.bmj.com/cgi/reprint/73/7/583-a.pdf |accessdate=17 December 2007}}</ref> He is currently overseeing the [http://www.communityclinic.gov.bd/ Bangladesh Community Clinic] programme as chair of the board of trustees.<ref name="bssnews.net">{{cite web |title=BSS: Trust for community clinics formed |url=http://www.bssnews.net/?p=115777&print=print |accessdate=24 February 2019}}</ref><ref name="daily-sun.com">{{cite web |title=The Daily Sun: Trust for community clinics formed |url=https://www.daily-sun.com/printversion/details/348198/2018/11/06/Trust-for-community-clinics-formed |accessdate=24 February 2019}}</ref> He is an executive board member<ref>{{cite web |title=3rd Annual Meeting, School Health Component of the Mega Country Network, WHO |url=https://www.who.int/school_youth_health/media/en/third_mega_meeting_report.pdf |accessdate=30 November 2007}}</ref> of the [[World Health Organization]] (WHO), having previously served on the board twice before.

In 2013, Ali was named  as one of the 20 most innovative surgeons alive by healthcare education website Healthcare-Administration-Degree.net.<ref>{{cite web |title=Healthcare Administration Degree Programs: 20 Most Innovative Surgeons Alive Today |url=http://www.healthcare-administration-degree.net/20-most-innovative-surgeons-alive-today/ |accessdate=25 January 2014}}</ref> He is also a recipient of Bangladesh National Personality Research Centre's Freedom Fighter Award for his services during the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Bangladesh Observer: 26 personalities get Gunijan Awards |url=http://www.bangladesh-web.com/view.php?hidRecord=50137 |accessdate=7 February 2011}}</ref>

Ali was the Health and Family Welfare and Social Welfare adviser to the Bangladeshi prime minister, from 2009 to 2013, with the full rank and status of a senior cabinet minister.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Financial Express: Hasina's maiden day as PM |url=http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2009/01/08/55437.html |accessdate=8 January 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Prime Minister's Office, Bangladesh – Advisers |url=http://www.pmo.gov.bd/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=38&Itemid=365 |accessdate=8 June 2009}}</ref> He was 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=The New Nation: News analysis: Competence of ministers |url=http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2009/01/08/news0201.htm |accessdate=8 January 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Siddique made adviser |url=http://bdnews24.com/politics/2009/01/07/siddique-made-adviser |newspaper=bdnews24.com |date=7 January 2009 |accessdate=19 December 2016}}</ref> He was also a member of the executive committee of the National Economic Council, the highest political authority for consideration of development projects in Bangladesh, during this time. He is currently overseeing the [http://www.communityclinic.gov.bd/ Bangladesh Community Clinic] programme as chair of the board of trustees.<ref name="bssnews.net"/><ref name="daily-sun.com"/>

He was the Director-General<ref>{{cite web |title=Fourth Annual Meeting of School Health Component of Mega Country Network, WHO |url=https://www.who.int/school_youth_health/media/en/681.pdf |accessdate=23 December 2007}}</ref> of [http://www.dghs.gov.bd/index.php/en/ Health Services] for the [[Bangladesh]] government in 2001, [[Dean (education)|Dean]] of the Faculty of Postgraduate Medicine and Research at [[Dhaka University]] from 1998 to 2001, chairman of the [[Bangladesh Medical Research Council]] (BMRC)<ref>{{cite web |title=Eighteenth Meeting of the Ministers of Health of SEAR, SEARO, WHO |url=http://www.searo.who.int/EN/Section1257/Section2181/Section2211/Section2217_11439.htm |website=WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930024932/http://www.searo.who.int/EN/Section1257/Section2181/Section2211/Section2217_11439.htm |archive-date=30 September 2011}}</ref> from 1998 to 2003 and director (and [[professor emeritus]]) of the National Institute of Ophthalmology<ref>{{cite web |title=Report of WHO/UNICEF/UNFPA Coordinating Committee on Health (CCH), ''WHO'' |url=http://www.unfpa.org/exbrd/2001/annualsession/cchreport2001_eng.doc |accessdate=11 October 2010}}</ref> in [[Dhaka]], Bangladesh from 1997 to 2001. Under his chairmanship BMRC was awarded the prestigious [[WHO]] 50th Anniversary Primary Healthcare Development Award in 1998.<ref>{{cite book |last=Harun-Ar-Rashid |year=2012 |chapter=Bangladesh Medical Research Council |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Bangladesh_Medical_Research_Council |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref> He was also the president of the Ophthalmic Society of Bangladesh and in January 2015 the first peer-reviewed ophthalmic journal in Bangladesh, the ''Bangladesh Ophthalmic Journal'', was launched with Ali as the founding editor-in-chief. He is currently the chairman of the governing body of [[Dhaka City College]], one of the oldest colleges in Bangladesh,<ref>{{cite web |title=Dhaka City College governing body |url=http://deb107975.dhakaeducationboard.gov.bd/2300/committee.html |accessdate=24 February 2015}}</ref> a member of the board of directors of Beacon Pharmaceuticals Limited (Bangladesh), the first manufacturer of anticancer drugs in Bangladesh,<ref>{{cite web |title=Beacon Pharmaceuticals Limited - LankaBangla Financial Portal |url=http://lankabd.com/market/companyDetails.html?companyId=135&goToHomePageParam=true |accessdate=22 July 2015}}</ref> and has returned as chairman of the [[Bangladesh Medical Research Council]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC) Executive Committee |url=http://www.bmrcbd.org/committee_popup/executive_committee.html |accessdate=27 May 2017}}</ref>

Ali has been a lifelong anti-smoking campaigner and played a central role in the banning of smoking in public places <ref>{{cite news |title=BSMMU, Dhaka Medical made smoking free |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-75939 |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=15 February 2009 |access-date=19 March 2010}}</ref> in his home country of Bangladesh where nearly 50% of adults use tobacco for recreational purposes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Global Adult Tobacco Survey: Bangladesh Report 2009 |url=https://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/global_adult_tobacco_survey_bangladesh_report_2009.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101162648/http://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/global_adult_tobacco_survey_bangladesh_report_2009.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 November 2013 |publisher=World Health Organization, Country Office for Bangladesh |oclc=702354547 |access-date=19 March 2010}}</ref> In his capacity as the health and family welfare adviser to the prime minister of Bangladesh, he oversaw changes in legislation to fully comply with the provisions of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control<ref>{{cite web |title=WHO Bangladesh: Launching Ceremony of Global Adult Tobacco Survey |url=http://www.whoban.org/event-Gates-28-12-09.html |accessdate=19 March 2010}}{{dead link|date=July 2016}}</ref> and was awarded the WHO World No Tobacco Day Award 2010 for his work on tobacco control.<ref name="who.int"/> He was also the vice-president of the [[World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control|WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)]] representing the [[World Health Organization|WHO]] South-East Asia Region from 2010 to 2012.<ref>{{cite web |title=WHO FCTC: Bureau of the Conference of the Parties|url=https://www.who.int/fctc/cop/bureau_cop/en/index.html |access-date=19 March 2010}}</ref>

While studying for his medical degree at [[Dhaka Medical College]], 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 military-backed Bangladesh caretaker government regarding sending Hasina, who was detained on corruption charges, abroad for treatment,<ref>{{cite web |title=The Bangladesh Awami League: Personal physicians request CA to send Sheikh Hasina to USA |url=http://www.albd.org/autoalbd/content/view/255/49/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080614030312/http://www.albd.org/autoalbd/content/view/255/49 |archive-date=14 June 2008 |accessdate=14 March 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Daily Star, Bangladesh: Govt asked to return Hasina's passport |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=27493 |accessdate=14 March 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Daily Star, Bangladesh: Hasina's doctor writes letter to CA |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=29630 |accessdate=28 March 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=BBC News: Bangladesh former PM flies to US |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7449822.stm |accessdate=12 June 2008 | date=12 June 2008}}</ref> and threatened to sue the government over negligence regarding Hasina's treatment during her detention in 2008.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hasina wants to return end of Sept: doctor |url=http://bdnews24.com/politics/2008/08/17/hasina-wants-to-return-end-of-sept-doctor |newspaper=bdnews24.com |date=17 August 2008 |accessdate=21 August 2008}}</ref> He also served as a government adviser to Sheikh Hasina, the current prime minister of Bangladesh,<ref>{{cite web |title=Bangladesh Government: Prime Minister's Office – Key Personal |url=http://www.pmo.gov.bd/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=362&Itemid=356 |accessdate=18 January 2009}}</ref> and was involved in the formulation of the prime minister's peace model presented at the 66th session of the [[United Nations General Assembly]].<ref>{{cite web |title=United National General Assembly Second Committee Special Event – People's Empowerment: A Peace Model |url=https://www.un.org/en/ga/second/66/docs/peoples_empowerment_18oct2011_rev2.pdf |accessdate=7 November 2011}}</ref>

On 29 August 2012, the Anti Corruption Commission of Bangladesh said they have information that Ali allegedly influenced Sonali Bank authorities into granting a scam loan to the controversial Hallmark Group, an allegation that he denied. <ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-247643|title=Adviser's shadow in Hallmark scam|date=30 August 2012|newspaper=The Daily Star|language=en|access-date=27 January 2017}}</ref> No charges were brought against Ali following an investigation by a specially convened parliamentary committee. <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://bdnews24.com/business/2012/11/07/modasser-s-behaviour-unusual-1|title=Modasser’s behaviour unusual|date=7 November 2012|newspaper=bdnews24.com|language=en|access-date=23 January 2020}}</ref>

[[Category:Bangladeshi academics]]

[[Category:Bengali educators]]