Founder Chairman, North Bengal Medical College
Professor M. A. Matin was born in Kurigram district on November 13, 1937. He lost his father Late M.A. Sobhan while he was only five months old. His mother then moved to Sirajganj with her family and started upbringing her sons and daughters. Matin was a very meritorious student throughout his studentship and secured the 5th position in order of merit in the nationwide Matriculation Examination in 1953. After completing the higher secondary course from Government Dhaka College in 1955, he got admitted into Dhaka Medical College and became a physician after successfully completing the MBBS course in 1960. He then went to United Kingdom for higher studies in Ophthalmology and successfully earned the Diploma in Ophthalmology (DO, London, 1964) and FRCS (Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, 1967). When returned to Bangladesh (then East Pakistan), Dr. Matin joined Government Health Service and served as Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Professor of Ophthalmology at the then IPGMR (Institute of Postgraduate Medicine and Research) (currently, BMU), Dhaka from 1967 to 1977.
For his strong professional expertise, he was also engaged as Consultant, Ophthalmology of different national renowned institutions like Islamia Eye Hospital, Dhaka, the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka, the Holy Family Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, Dhaka. During this period, he was awarded the status of Honorary Colonel from Bangladesh Armed Forces.
In recognition of Prof. Matin's professional contribution, he was awarded FCPS without examination by the Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons (BCPS) (1974), FRC (Fellow of Royal College) in Ophthalmology by the College of Ophthalmologists of London (1989), Honorary FCPS by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan (1993) and FRCP by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK (1995).
In late 1977, Prof. Matin left Government Health Service and started community eye care for the poor and was involved in various voluntary and social welfare activities. He became the Deputy Adviser to the President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 1978. Soon after became the Minster in-charge of the same ministry, he continued to serve as a cabinet minister till August, 1989. During his tenure as cabinet member, he was the minister in-charge for the ministry of Education, Home Affairs, Commerce and Ministry of Works until his resignation from the cabinet, while he was in the position of Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Bangladesh. Prof. Matin was elected four times as the Member of Parliament (MP) (1979, 1986, 1988 and 2001) from the constituency of Sirajganj-6 and Sirajganj-2.
In the professional community, Prof. M.A. Matin was the elected President of the Ophthalmological Society of Bangladesh (OSB) for 18 years between 1975 and 1995. During this period, his instrumental role made the success in establishing the National Institute of Ophthalmology (NIO) at Sher-E-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka for training and education of the post-graduate doctors as Ophthalmologists. He also established OSB Eye Hospital and OSB under-5 clinic in Dhaka for free eye care services for the poor. In addition to these works, he also built ten low-cost eye hospitals in different rural areas of Bangladesh for providing appropriate eye care services accessible and affordable to the unprivileged population.
He served as the President of Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons (BCPS) for two consecutive terms during 1981 to 1985. While being President of the Bangladesh College of Physicians & Surgeons (BCPS) and also the Minister of Health and Family planning, he was the key person in arranging construction of building for BCPS in its present premises at Mohakhali, Dhaka during 1980-82.
He was also the Founder Secretary General of Bangladesh National Society for the Blind, Vice Chairman of Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC), Chairman, Ethical Review Committee of the International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research in Bangladesh (icddr,b) and Chairman, Public Administration Training Centre (PATC). He was one of the Vice Chairmen of the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology and Vice President, World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland (1988).
As we move forward, let us remain committed to our founding principles of excellence, equity, and service. May North Bengal Medical College continue to be a beacon of hope and healing for generations to come.
In addition to his political and medical profession, Prof. Matin believed in quality higher education for all students across the nation. In view of this, he established by his own personal initiative, a private university (University of South Asia) in Dhaka and a Medical College and Hospital (North Bengal Medical College and Hospital) at Sirajganj.
Prof. Matin has established a fully functioning handicraft centre at Sirajganj by an organization named as "Bridge of Light" through which various programs and activities are being conducted providing vocational training to the under privileged male and female workers. Products made by the young workers have drawn attraction of European visitors including the Germans and many of these items are now being exported to their countries.
Prof. Matin attended many international meetings, seminars and conferences held around the world. He attended the world congress of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) held in Oxford (1978), Washington (1982), Nairobi (1990) and Beijing (1999). In 1978, he led the Bangladesh Delegation to the historic Alma Ata conference where the Primary Health Care strategy was signed for achieving Health for All by the year 2000AD (HFA2000AD). Among others were Population Conference in Manila, first South East Asia Regional Health Ministers Conference, Jakarta (1981), Trade Ministers Conference of OIC countries, Istambul (1984), Asian MEET on housing and urban development, New Delhi (1985), Habitat Conference in Washington (1986) and Narcotics Conference in Vienna (1988), World Health Assembly in Geneva (1979, 1980) and Commonwealth Health Ministers Conferences, Geneva. In each occasion, he led the country Delegation as being the concerned Minister. In 1989, he led a Parliamentary Delegation team to Japan including two other Members of the Parliament. To his credit, Prof. Matin has a number of publications in reputed Journals. His writings including two books, namely Ophthalmic Optics and Treatment of Eye Diseases in Bengali earned huge appreciations.
Professor Matin received many prestigious national and international awards. Among those, he received the prestigious Alim Memorial Gold Medal (first recipient in 1978), Distinguished Service Award from the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (1981), ABC IRWIN Award (1982), and SAARC's best Ophthalmologist Gold Medal (1993). He also received the highest award of Asia Pacific Academy the JOSE RISAL Medal in 1993.
Prof. Matin served as Vice Chancellor of the University of South Asia. He was also the Chairman of the North Bengal Medical College Foundation.
Prof. Matin was married to Prof. Tashmina Matin, Founder-Principal of North Bengal Medical College, Sirajganj, who was also an eminent Obstetrician and Gynaecologist. They have two sons (Elder one is a Cardiologist and other son is an Ophthalmologist).
Prof. Matin passed away on June 13, 2012, at the age of 78. He was laid to rest with full honour by people of Sirajganj and Shahjadpur. Prof. Matin’s contributions to his communities will be remembered by the people of this region from generation to generation.
