Gazipur Agricultural University (GAU) on Monday honored two distinguished scientists who received Bangladesh's 2026 Independence Award in recognition of their outstanding contributions to education, science, and research.
The university hosted a reception at its Old Auditorium to recognize Professor Dr. Z.A. Karim and Professor Dr. M.A. Rahim, presenting them with floral tributes and commemorative crests.
The event was chaired by GAU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. GKM Mostafizur Rahman and moderated by Registrar Md. Abdullah Mridha. Among the special guests was Professor Dr. Z.N. Tahmida Begum, the first female chairperson and former head of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC). University officials, faculty members, and invited guests from various institutions also attended the ceremony.
During the event, the registrar highlighted the scientists' distinguished careers and their contributions to research and national development.
Professor Dr. M.A. Rahim, who received the Independence Award for Research and Training, reflected on his decades-long academic and research career. He emphasized the importance of dedication, patience, and a strong sense of responsibility among young researchers.
Professor Dr. Z.A. Karim, President of the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences and recipient of the award in Science and Technology, stressed the value of discipline and continuous learning.
"There is no substitute for discipline in life," he said.
Karim also encouraged young researchers to keep pace with global scientific advances and adapt international knowledge and technology to address Bangladesh's development challenges.
In his closing remarks, Vice-Chancellor Mostafizur Rahman said the university was honored by the presence of the two award-winning scientists.
"Your contributions to the nation will remain an enduring part of Bangladesh's history," he said, adding that GAU aims to become a world-class research institution by following the ideals and guidance of distinguished scholars.
Professor Dr. Z.A. Karim is widely recognized as a pioneer in climate change research in Bangladesh. His work includes identifying ferrihydrite minerals in paddy soils, developing the country's first drought severity map, contributing to solutions for seasonal food insecurity in northern Bangladesh, and producing national salinity maps. His research has also supported the development of short-duration rice varieties.
Professor Dr. M.A. Rahim, a former professor at Bangladesh Agricultural University, is one of the country's leading fruit scientists. Under his leadership, researchers developed 128 new fruit varieties, including the widely cultivated BAU Kul. He also helped establish the BAU Germplasm Centre, now recognized as Bangladesh's largest repository of fruit, medicinal plants, and agroforestry genetic resources and one of the world's largest germplasm collections of its kind.
