Muhammed Zafar Iqbal

Bangladeshi scientist and writer

For other people with similar names, see Zafar Iqbal (disambiguation).

Muhammed Zafar Iqbal

মুহম্মদ জাফর ইকবাল

Iqbal in 2022

Born|  (1952-12-23) 23 December 1952 (age 72)

Sylhet, Bangladesh

Nationality| Bangladeshi
Education| PhD in physics
Alma mater|

* Dhaka College (HSC)
* University of Dhaka (BSc, MSc)
* University of Washington (PhD)

Occupations|

* Physicist
* writer
* columnist

Spouse|

Yasmeen Haque

(m. 1978)​

Children|

* Nabil Iqbal
* Yeshim Iqbal

Parents|

* Faizur Rahman Ahmed (father)
* Ayesha Akhter Khatun (mother)

Relatives|

* Humayun Ahmed (brother)
* Ahsan Habib (brother)

Awards|

* Bangla Academy Literary Award (2004),
* Dhaka University Alumni Association Medal (2005),
* Meril-Prothom Alo Award for Best Playwright (2005),[1]
* Best Storyteller, National Film Award (2011),
* National ICT Award (2017)

Muhammed Zafar Iqbal (Bengali: মুহম্মদ জাফর ইকবাল; pronounced [muɦɔmmɔd dʒafor ikbal]; born 23 December 1952) is a Bangladeshi science fiction author, physicist, academic, activist, former professor of computer science and engineering, and former head of the department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST). He achieved his PhD from University of Washington. After working 18 years as a scientist at California Institute of Technology and Bell Communications Research, he returned to Bangladesh and joined Shahjalal University of Science and Technology as a professor of Computer Science and Engineering. He retired from his teaching profession in October 2018.

## Early life and education

[edit]

Muhammed Zafar Iqbal was born on 23 December 1952 in Sylhet of the then East Pakistan.[2][3] His father, Faizur Rahman Ahmed, was a police officer who was killed in the Liberation War of Bangladesh. His mother was Ayesha Akhter Khatun.[citation needed] He spent his childhood in different parts of Bangladesh because of the transferring nature of his father's job. His elder brother, Humayun Ahmed, was a prominent writer and filmmaker.[4] His younger brother, Ahsan Habib, is a cartoonist who is serving as the editor of the satirical magazine, Unmad.[5] He has three sisters - Sufia Haider, Momtaz Shahid and Rukhsana Ahmed.[6]

Iqbal passed the SSC exam from Bogra Zilla School in 1968 and the HSC exam from Dhaka College in 1970.[7] He earned his bachelor's and master's in physics from the University of Dhaka in 1973 and 1974 respectively and then went to the University of Washington where he earned his Ph.D. in 1982.[8]

## Career

[edit]

### Academic

[edit]

After obtaining his PhD degree, Iqbal worked as a post-doctoral researcher at California Institute of Technology (Caltech) from 1983 to 1988 (mainly on Norman Bridge Laboratory of Physics).[9] He then joined Bell Communications Research (Bellcore), a separate corporation from the Bell Labs (now Telcordia Technologies), as a research scientist.[10][11][12] He left the institute in 1994.

According to Iqbal, he had always planned to return to Bangladesh. When, around 1992, he began seeking a teaching position at the University of Dhaka, he found the process labyrinthine. He eventually abandoned the idea of working there, and accepted an offer from SUST,[13] where he joined the computer science and engineering department and became its head.[14]

Iqbal served as the vice president of Bangladesh Mathematical Olympiad committee until 2024. He played a leading role in founding the Bangladesh Mathematical Olympiad and popularized mathematics among Bangladeshi youths at local and international level. In 2011, he won the Rotary SEED Award for his contribution in the field of education.[15]

On 26 November 2013, Iqbal and his wife professor Haque applied for resignation soon after the university authority had postponed the combined admission test for the SUST and Jashore University of Science Technology.[16] However they withdrew their resignation letters on the next day after the authority decided to go on with holding combined admission tests.[17]

To make the NCTB text book "easy" and "learner friendly",[18] in November 2017, there was a new revision of the secondary education class 9-10 text books for 2018, whose six books were revised under Iqbal and Mohammad Kaykobad's leadership.[19] He is also the first co-author and chief editor of multiple new NCTB text books of 2023 including class 7's text book "Science (Investigative Study)" where some lines and pictures were plagiarised from different websites including National Geographic Education Resource Library website and in case of Bangla Version of the text book, because of erroneous translation it was alleged that those texts were translated into Bangla "using Google Translate".[20][21] Later he admitted the issue of plagiarism and admitted his fault as the chief editor.[22][23]

### Literary

[edit]

Iqbal started writing stories at a very early age. He wrote his first science fiction short story at the age of seven.[13] While studying at the University of Dhaka, Iqbal's story "Kopotronik Bhalobasha" ("Copotronic Love") was published in the weekly Bichitra. Later he wrote a series of Kopotronik stories and published them as a collection titled Copotronic Sukh Dukkhu.[24]

He wrote numerous books for teenagers, such as novels, science fiction, and adventure books. Several of his books are:

* Meku Kahini
* Shanta Poribar
* Kabil Kohlafi
* Dushtu Cheler dol
* Nitu o tar bondhura
* Dipu number 2
* Obonil
* Ikarus
* Pri
* Tritron ekti groher nam
* Amar Bondhu Rashed
* Haat Kata Robin

## Political stance

[edit]

Iqbal is known for his stance against Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh and has spearheaded criticism of its leaders, several of whom were undergoing trial at the International Crimes Tribunal for their role in the Bangladesh liberation war in 1971.[25][26] Iqbal's father was allegedly killed by Jamaat leader Delwar Hossain Sayeedi.[27] He came down heavily on a section of the media for their stand against holding the 10th parliamentary elections in Bangladesh on 5 January 2014, amid a boycott by the main opposition party, alleging that those who were calling for halting the electoral process were actually trying to ensure the participation of Jamaat-e-Islami in the election.[28]

In support of the war crime trials carried out at the premises of the International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh, he participated and featured prominently at the 2013 Shahbag protests.[29]

Iqbal survived a stabbing attack in the head on 3 March 2018 in a prize-giving ceremony in SUST campus in Sylhet.[30] Foyzur, the attacker, a 25-year-old male, was arrested after he had been beaten by the students.[31][32] The attacker claimed that he had tried to kill him because the attacker believed he was an "enemy of Islam".[33][34][35]

Iqbal has been widely criticized for supporting[36] the authoritarian regime[37] of Sheikh Hasina. After the 2018 national election he stated[38] that, people gave a grand victory to ruling authoritarian regime but later it was proved to be a staged election.[39]

In May 2025, an attempted murder case was filed against Iqbal over a student of alia madrasa getting injured in Old Dhaka during protests against Hasina in August 2024.[40]

## Works

[edit]

Main article: Muhammed Zafar Iqbal bibliography

Iqbal is one of the pioneers of science fiction in the Bengali language.[41] He mainly writes for younger readers. He has also written several non-fiction books on physics and mathematics. He writes columns in mainstream newspapers regularly.[42] Zafar Iqbal also writes storylines for the famous Bengali "Dhaka Comics."

He writes a detective book series titled, Tuntuni o Chotachchu. Chotachchu is a short form of 'Choto Chachchu' which lexically translates to 'Small Uncle'; it means, 'the youngest uncle'.

* Tuntuni o Chotachchu (2014)
* Aro Tuntuni o Aro Chotachchu (2015)
* Abaro Tuntuni o Abaro Chotachchu
* Tobuo Tuntuni Tobuo Chotachchu (2018)
* Jokhon Tuntuni Tokhon Chotachchu
* Jerokom Tuntuni Sherokom Chotachchu (2020)
* Jetuku Tuntuni Setuku Chotachchu
* Aha Tuntuni Uhu Chotachchu (2022)
* Bah Tuntuni Bah Bah Chotaccu (2023)
* ogo Tuntuni kigo Chotacchu (2024)

## Personal life

[edit]

Iqbal with his wife, Yasmeen Haque

Iqbal married Yasmeen Haque in 1978.[43] She was the Dean of the Life Science Department and Professor of the Department of Physics at SUST.[44] They have a son, Nabil Iqbal, working as a scientist[45][46] at Durham University[47] and a daughter, Yeshim Iqbal, a research scientist at Global TIES for Children at New York University after completing her Ph.D. from the same institution.[48]

## Awards

[edit]

Iqbal at Borno Mela, Dhaka (February 2013)

* Agrani Bank Shishu Shahitto Award (2001)
* Quazi Mahbubulla Zebunnesa Award (2002)[8]
* Khalekdad Chowdhury Literary Award (2003)[8]
* Sheltech Literary Award (2003)[8]
* Uro Child Literary Award (2004)[8]
* Md. Mudabber-Husne ara literary Award (2005)[8]
* Marcantile Bank Ltd. Award (2005)[8]
* One of the 10 living Eminent Bengali (2005)[8]
* American Alumni Association Award (2005)[8]
* Dhaka University Alumni Association Award (2005)[8]
* Sylhet Naittamoncho Award (2005)
* Bangla Academy Literary Award (2005)[49]
* Best Playwright Meril Prothom Alo Awards (2005)
* Uro Child Literary Award (2006)[8]
* Rotary SEED Award (2011)[15]
* National ICT Award (2017)

## Controversies and criticism

[edit]

He received criticism for endorsing anti-Islamic activities referenced in Shah Ahmad Shafi's open letter named An Open Letter from Shah Ahmad Shafi to the Government and the Public related to the Shahbag protests in 2013.[50] In 2023, under the government's new education policy, changes were made to books of various classes. Zafar Iqbal was a co-author and the chief editor of several new textbooks, including the 7th-grade textbook. However, after the publication of the "Science (Investigative Reading)" textbook, accusations of plagiarism and mechanical translation arose.[51] Later, Zafar Iqbal acknowledged his mistake regarding the book and, in a joint statement with Hasina Khan, stated, "This year the experimental version of the book has been launched, and there is ample opportunity for revision and editing in the next academic year."[52][53]

On July 16, 2024, during the quota reform movement, he expressed his dismay at the slogan 'Razakar' by writing, "Dhaka University is my university, my beloved university. However, I feel that I will never want to go to this university again. When I see the students, I will think, these might be the 'Razakars'. And for the rest of my life, I do not want to see the face of any Razakar. There is only one life, so why should I have to see Razakars again in that life?" This comment led to criticism on social media, and on the same day, several bookstores in Bangladesh, including Rokomari, stopped selling his books.[54] Additionally, students at SUST declared him unwanted at the institution.[55]

## See also

[edit]

* Attacks on Muhammad Zafar Iqbal

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Meril-Prothom Alo awards for 2005 given". The Daily Star. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
2. ^ ড. মুহম্মদ জাফর ইকবাল. bdnews24.com (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 24 May 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
3. ^ মুহম্মদ জাফর ইকবাল. NTV (in Bengali). Retrieved 8 April 2019.
4. ^ "Humayun Ahmed dies". bdnews24.com. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
5. ^ "Homepage". Unmad Magazine. Archived from the original on 8 October 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
6. ^ হুমায়ূনের কবরে স্বজনেরা [Relatives at Humayun's grave]. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 24 August 2012. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
7. ^ Md.Mahbur Rahman (5 August 2006). "From Bogra : A Successful Seat of knowledge". The Daily Star. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Faculty Profile: Dr Muhammed Zafar Iqbal". Shahjalal University of Science and Technology.
9. ^ Iqbal, M.Z.; Henrikson, H.E.; Mitchell, L.W.; O'Callaghan, B.M.G.; Thomas, J.; Wong, H.T.-k. (September 1987). "Design and construction of a high pressure xenon time projection chamber". Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment. 259 (3): 459–465\. Bibcode:1987NIMPA.259..459I. doi:10.1016/0168-9002(87)90827-8.
10. ^ Gee-Kung Chang; Lars E. Eskildsen; Evan L. Goldstein; Muhammed Z. Iqbal; Chinlon Lin. "Self-regulating multiwavelength optical amplifier module for scalable lightwave communications systems". Google Patents. Rembrandt IP Management LLC. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
11. ^ Charles A. Brackett; Gee-Kung Chang; Muhammed Z. Iqbal. "System for wavelength division multiplexing/asynchronous transfer mode switching for network communication". Google Patents. Iconectiv LLC. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
12. ^ Gee-Kung Chang; Georgios Ellinas; John K. Gamelin; Muhammed Zafar Iqbal; Mamun R. Rashid Khandker. "Inter-ring cross-connect for survivable multi-wavelength optical communication networks". Justia Patents. Telcordia Technologies, Inc. (Morristown, NJ). Retrieved 23 August 2024.
13. ^ a b Haider, Mahtab (1 January 2006). "Muhammad Zafar Iqbal: A life in quantum leap". New Age. Archived from the original on 24 February 2006.
14. ^ Ayesha Siddika Ratri. মুহম্মদ জাফর ইকবাল [Muhammad Zafar Iqbal]. Gunijan (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 18 July 2010.
15. ^ a b "Zafar Iqbal gets Rotary SEED Award". The Daily Star. 6 October 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
16. ^ "Zafar Iqbal, Yasmeen Haque resign". The Daily Star. 27 November 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
17. ^ "Zafar Iqbal, Yasmeen Haque withdraw resignation". The Daily Star. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
18. ^ Physics (Class 9-10) (Revised ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB). November 2017. Preface.
19. ^ "গাছ থেকে ছাগল নামছে, ওড়নার বদলে ওজন". Prothomalo (in Bengali). Retrieved 17 January 2023.
20. ^ "Plagiarism in textbooks: NCTB seeks explanation from writers panel". Dhaka Tribune. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
21. ^ সপ্তম শ্রেণির বিজ্ঞান বই: হুবহু চুরি আর গুগলের অনুবাদে শিক্ষার্থীরা কী শিখবে?. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 15 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
22. ^ "Zafar Iqbal expresses sorrow over plagiarism in textbooks". Dhaka Tribune. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
23. ^ সপ্তম শ্রেণির বিজ্ঞান বই: তাঁরা লজ্জিত-বিব্রত হোন, আমরা তা আর চাই না. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Retrieved 18 January 2023.
24. ^ Ahsan, Shamim (4 July 2003). "Igniting Children's Imagination". Star Magazine.
25. ^ "War crimes catch up with Jamaat". bdnews24.com. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
26. ^ "IO testifies on al-Badr leader Mir Kashem's involvement in war crimes". Dhaka Tribune. 10 April 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
27. ^ "War crimes investigator deceived court". bdnews24.com. 29 November 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2014. "That list had such names as Jewel Aich, a famous magician, Shahriar Kabir, a long-time advocate for war crimes trials and Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, a noted writer and university teacher whose father had allegedly been killed, in part due to Sayedee's connivance with the Pakistani Army in Pirojpur."
28. ^ "Zafar Iqbal slams media". Daily Star. 5 January 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
29. ^ "Shahbag protesters versus the Butcher of Mirpur". The Guardian. 12 February 2013. Archived from the original on 6 December 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
30. ^ "Popular science fiction writer Zafar Iqbal stabbed in Bangladesh". The Hindu. 3 March 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
31. ^ "Prof Zafar Iqbal stabbed, to be taken to Dhaka". The Daily Star. 3 March 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
32. ^ জাফর ইকবাল হত্যাচেষ্টা মামলায় সাক্ষ্যগ্রহণ শেষ. Bangladesh Pratidin (in Bengali). 10 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
33. ^ "I attacked Zafar Iqbal because he is an enemy of Islam". Dhaka Tribune. 4 March 2018. Archived from the original on 4 March 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
34. ^ Faisal Mahmud. "Bangladesh: Why was science fiction writer Zafar Iqbal attacked?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
35. ^ "'I attacked Zafar Iqbal because he is an enemy of Islam'". Dhaka Tribune. 4 March 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
36. ^ দুশ্চিন্তা নেই, দায়িত্বে আছেন শেখ হাসিনা: ড. জাফর ইকবাল. Jugantor (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 30 December 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
37. ^ "Sheikh Hasina and the Future of Democracy in Bangladesh". TIME. 2 November 2023. Archived from the original on 4 January 2024. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
38. ^ নববর্ষের প্রত্যাশা. Kaler Kantho. January 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
39. ^ যেভাবে বিবিসির চোখে পড়লো ভোটের আগেই পূর্ণ ব্যালটবক্স. BBC News (in Bengali). 31 December 2018. Archived from the original on 30 December 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
40. ^ "হত্যাচেষ্টা মামলায় মামুনুর রশীদ, চঞ্চল, শাওনসহ ২০১ জন আসামি". Prothomalo (in Bengali). 2 May 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
41. ^ "Winds of Change and some Change Makers". Star Campus. The Daily Star. 2 April 2010. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
42. ^ Iqbal, Muhammed Zafar (21 February 2004). "Doing Science in Bangla". The Daily Star. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
43. ^ Lovlu Ansar (7 July 2012). "Zafar Iqbal by Humayun's side". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
44. ^ Rafi Hossain (17 July 2010). "Dr. Yasmeen Haque: A Voice of Strength". Star Insight. The Daily Star. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
45. ^ "Liepe Research Group: About us". www.classe.cornell.edu. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
46. ^ "MIT Department of Physics". web.mit.edu. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
47. ^ "N Iqbal - Durham University". Durham University. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
48. ^ "Yeshim Iqbal | NYU Steinhardt". steinhardt.nyu.edu. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
49. ^ পুরস্কারপ্রাপ্তদের তালিকা [Winners list] (in Bengali). Bangla Academy. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
50. ^ White Paper: 2000 Days of Fundamentalist and Communal Violence in Bangladesh (in Bengali). Dhaka: Public Commission to Investigate Fundamentalist and Communal Terrorism. 2022. p. 52.
51. ^ Mahmud, Nadim (20 January 2023). সপ্তম শ্রেণির বিজ্ঞান বই: হুবহু চুরি আর গুগলের অনুবাদে শিক্ষার্থীরা কী শিখবে? (in Bengali). Retrieved 18 July 2024.
52. ^ পাঠ্যবই নিয়ে অভিযোগ: দায় স্বীকার করলেন জাফর ইকবাল ও হাসিনা খান (in Bengali). 17 January 2023. Archived from the original on 21 January 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
53. ^ "Zafar Iqbal expresses sorrow over plagiarism in textbooks". Dhaka Tribune. 17 January 2024.
54. ^ "'I will never want to go to Dhaka University again': Dr Zafar Iqbal". 16 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
55. ^ "Dr Zafar Iqbal declared unwanted at SUST". The Daily Observer. Retrieved 18 July 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Muhammed Zafar Iqbal at Wikimedia Commons
* Muhammed Zafar Iqbal at IMDb
* Muhammed Zafar Iqbal on Mendeley

* v
* t
* e

Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Story

1977–1985|

* Alauddin Al Azad (1977)
* No Award (1978)
* No Award (1979)
* No Award (1980)
* No Award (1981)
* No Award (1982)
* No Award (1983)
* No Award(1984)
* Sheikh Niamat Ali (1985)

1986–2000|

* No Award(1986)
* Kazi Hayat (1987)
* No Award (1988)
* No Award (1989)
* No Award (1990)
* Mohiuddin Ahmad (1991)
* Humayun Ahmed (1992)
* Kazi Hayat (1993)
* Humayun Ahmed (1994)
* Tanvir Mokammel (1995)
* Selina Hossain (1996)
* Selina Hossain (1997)
* No Award (1998)
* Tanvir Mokammel (1999)
* Selim Al Deen (2000)

2001–present|

* Syed Waliullah (2001)
* No Award (2002)
* Giasuddin Selim (2003)
* Amjad Hossain (2004)
* Zahir Raihan (2005)
* Kazi Morshed (2006)
* No Award (2007)
* Mohammad Rafiquzzaman (2008)
* Syed Wahiduzzaman Diamond (2009)
* Zakir Hossain Raju (2010)
* Muhammed Zafar Iqbal (2011)
* Shahnewaz Kakoli (2012)
* Gazi Rakayet (2013)
* Zahidur Rahman Anjan (2014)
* Masum Reza (2015)
* Tauquir Ahmed (2016)
* Azad Bulbul (2017)
* Sudipto Saeed Khan (2018)

* v
* t
* e

Meril-Prothom Alo Critics Choice Award for Best Playwright

1998–present|

* Tariq Anam Khan (1998)
* Abul Hayat (1999)
* Masum Reza (2000)
* Ratan Paul (2001)
* Nurul Alam Atique (2002)
* Giasuddin Selim (2003)
* Giasuddin Selim (2004)
* Muhammed Zafar Iqbal (2005)
* Masum Reza (2006)
* Litu Shakhawat (2007)
* Nurul Alam Atique & Ranjan Rabbani (2008)
* Nurul Alam Atique (2009)
* Iftekhar Ahmed Fahmi (2010)
* Monoar Kabir (2011)
* Azad Abul Kalam (2012)
* Partho Shahriar (2013)
* Monirul Islam Rubel (2014)
* Ashraful Chanchal (2015)
* Sarower Reza Jimi (2016)
* Ashfaque Nipun (2017)
* Redoan Rony (2018)

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States
* Italy
* Australia
* Sweden

People|

* Trove

*[m.]: married
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template