Dr. Md Rofiqur Rahman is a distinguished medical professional with nearly three decades of dedicated service in both military and civilian health sectors. His impressive career is marked by significant contributions to public health, hospital management, emergency response, and health system strengthening, both within Bangladesh and in international contexts, including United Nations . As a Lieutenant Colonel in the Bangladesh Army, Dr. Rahman has demonstrated exemplary leadership, having commanded various military hospitals and field medical units, where he has overseen the delivery of comprehensive healthcare services and devised strategic health policies aimed at improving the wellbeing of service personnel and local populations alike. His expertise spans several critical areas, including infectious disease prevention, antimicrobial stewardship, and epidemiological surveillance. Dr. Rahman’s extensive experience in the management of public health emergencies, particularly in resource-constrained and conflict-affected regions, has made him a valuable asset in global health initiatives. During his tenure in UN peacekeeping missions, such as those in MINURSO and MONUSCO, he led medical operations that significantly improved health outcomes and operational efficiency, showcasing his ability to adapt to the complex demands of humanitarian work. His leadership in these missions not only ensured the health and safety of personnel but also strengthened the resilience of healthcare systems in fragile environments. In addition to his clinical and operational roles, Dr. Rahman has been a key figure in medical education and capacity building within the military. As the Chief Instructor at the Military Medical Training Center, he was instrumental in shaping the medical training programs for both doctors and paramedics, enhancing the medical readiness of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. His focus on medical education reflects his commitment to improving healthcare delivery standards and ensuring that medical professionals are equipped with the skills needed to respond effectively to both routine and emergency situations. 

Dr. Md Rofiqur Rahman’s academic journey is a testament to his deep commitment to advancing his expertise in public health and medicine. In July 2015, he embarked on a rigorous Master of Philosophy (MPhil) program in Preventive and Social Medicine (PSM) at the prestigious Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), NIPSOM in Dhaka, which he completed in June 2017. His MPhil thesis, “Accessibility of Senior Citizens to Community Clinic Services in the Selected Rural Communities of Bangladesh,” reflects his focus on addressing healthcare disparities in underserved populations and demonstrates his dedication to improving health service delivery for vulnerable groups. Prior to this, in April 2014, Dr. Rahman pursued a Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (DTM&H) at Mahidol University in Thailand, specializing in Tropical Medicine, Travel Medicine, and Nutrition. He completed this diploma by September 2014, which broadened his expertise in managing tropical diseases and improving healthcare in low-resource settings, particularly in countries with significant public health challenges. In addition, Dr. Rahman earned his Master of Public Health (MPH) in Hospital Management from the Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) in Dhaka, graduating in June 2009. His MPH thesis, titled “Association of Disease Profile with the Socio-Demographic Factors of Retired Armed Forces Personnel,” focused on analyzing health outcomes in retired military personnel, showcasing his ability to link demographic data with healthcare needs in specific populations. Dr. Rahman’s academic foundation in medicine was laid with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree from Sir Salimullah Medical College, University of Dhaka, which he completed in September 1992.

Dr. Md Rofiqur Rahman currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the Institute for Developing Science and Health Initiatives (ideSHi), where he leads the research administration department. His extensive research portfolio is both diverse and impactful, addressing critical public health challenges in developing regions. In his role, Dr. Rahman actively spearheads numerous research projects that span across different domains of public health, each contributing significantly to the advancement of healthcare practices in resource-constrained settings. One of his notable projects, where he serves as the Principal Investigator (PI), is the PneumoDx study titled “Improving Diagnosis & Case Management of Childhood Pneumonia in Limited Resource Settings.” This study is focused on assessing the utility of point-of-care diagnostic tools, such as automated respiratory rate counters and pulse oximeters, to enhance the diagnosis and management of pediatric pneumonia cases, specifically among the Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN) population. This research, funded by Fondation Mérieux from France, holds critical importance for improving health outcomes in vulnerable refugee communities. In addition, Dr. Rahman is also the PI of a groundbreaking study entitled “Opportunities, Challenges, and Strategies to Reaching Out-Of-School (OOS) Girls with HPV Vaccine in Low- and Lower-Middle Income Countries,” funded by the Path Foundation. This research aims to identify and address the barriers to HPV vaccine access for out-of-school girls, thereby contributing to the global fight against cervical cancer in underserved populations. Dr. Rahman further collaborates as the Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) on a study titled “Validation of a Diagnostic Kit for Detection of HEV in Urine Samples,” conducted in partnership with Johns Hopkins University and funded by the Gates Foundation. This study addresses a significant public health concern—hepatitis E virus (HEV)—by working to validate a diagnostic kit that could offer timely detection of HEV in patients with acute jaundice syndrome (AJS) in developing countries, where the disease burden is high. Additionally, Dr. Rahman is a co-investigator on the study “Quantifying the True Burden of Pediatric Typhoidal Salmonella in Dhaka, Bangladesh,” to clarify the utility of a serological typhoid surveillance tool which is supported by the Thresher Award. This research aims to provide accurate epidemiological data to inform future prevention and control strategies for typhoidal salmonella, a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in Bangladesh. 

In addition to his leadership in various institutional projects, Dr. Rahman is actively contributing to conduct pivotal research studies. These include a nationwide study on HPV awareness program named “Creating Awareness on HPV Infection, Vaccination and Cervical Cancer: A road map towards the elimination of cervical cancer from Bangladesh” funded by the Gates Foundation, a Respiratory Microbiome study funded by Fondation Mérieux, and the RO1 study titled “Antibody-Mediated Immunity Against Klebsiella pneumoniae,” funded by MGH. Moreover, he is overseeing a nationwide surveillance project on inborn errors of metabolism and leading multiple clinical trials, including those focused on innovative therapies such as Ranibizumab and Erythropoietin. 

Dr. Md Rofiqur Rahman has had the honor of presenting his impactful research at several renowned international conferences, reflecting his commitment to advancing public health discourse on a global stage. At the 36th International Papillomavirus Conference & Basic, Clinical & Public Health Scientific Workshops (IPVC 2024), held in Edinburgh, UK, he presented two significant studies: “Accessibility of Cervical Cancer Prevention Programs for Women and Adolescent Girls in Dhaka’s Urban Slums” and “Understanding the Behavioral Perspective on HPV Vaccination through Social Media.” These presentations underscored his dedication to addressing public health challenges in marginalized populations, particularly concerning cervical cancer prevention and HPV vaccination. In November 2024, Dr. Rahman participated in the 13th GABRIEL Network Meeting at Les Pensières Center for Global Health in France. This prestigious gathering brought together over 80 scientific representatives from laboratories worldwide. During the meeting, Dr. Rahman shared his pioneering work on the study titled “Improving Diagnosis & Case Management of Childhood Pneumonia in Limited Resource Settings,” which focused on the use of innovative diagnostic tools to combat childhood pneumonia in vulnerable populations. His contributions at this conference were well-received by an audience of global health experts. Additionally, Dr. Rahman was invited to the 10th International Conference on Public Health (ICOPH 2024), held in Bangkok, Thailand, where he presented his research paper titled “Accessibility of Senior Citizens to Community Clinic Services in Selected Rural Communities of Bangladesh.” Not only was he selected to present his paper, but he was also honored with the role of chairing one of the key sessions, demonstrating his leadership and expertise in the field of public health. In April 2024, Dr. Rahman attended the BMGF HPV Learning Agenda Convening in Seattle, Washington, USA, where he engaged in high-level discussions regarding the ongoing progress of his project, “Creating Awareness on HPV Infection, Vaccination, and Cervical Cancer: A Roadmap Towards the Elimination of Cervical Cancer from Bangladesh.” His participation in this event exemplifies his commitment to eradicating cervical cancer and highlights his influential role in shaping public health policies and awareness campaigns in Bangladesh.

In summary, Dr. Md Rofiqur Rahman stands as a highly skilled and experienced medical professional whose contributions to public health, military medicine, and international health have been both broad and impactful. His career is a testament to his dedication to improving healthcare systems, particularly in challenging environments, and his legacy is one of leadership, service, and unwavering commitment to the betterment of health outcomes for all.

He has a number of publications in both reputed national and International journals.

1. Md Rofiqur Rahman, Mir Riyanul Islam, Anjuman Ara Begum – “Accessibility of the Senior Citizens to Community Clinic Services in the Selected Rural Communities of Bangladesh,” published in Genus Homo, Volume 3, Journal of West Bengal State University, India, 2019. Web link – https://wbsu.ac.in/web/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/1.Rahman-et-al-1-16.pdf

2. Md Rofiqur Rahman, Abdullah Al Harun, Md Ashraful Islam – “Association of Socio-Demographic Factors with Performance of Recruits in a Military Training Center of Bangladesh,” published in JAFMC Bangladesh, Volume 17, No. 2 (December) 2021, Journal of Armed Forces Medical College, Bangladesh. Web link – https://www.banglajol.info/index.php/JAFMC/article/view/58366

3. Md Rofiqur Rahman, Jinat Farzana, Farhana Dilshad – “Neglected Tropical Diseases – Burden and Barriers in Context to COVID-19,” published in CMHDJ, Volume 3, Issue 2 (July) 2022, Journal of Combined Military Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

4. Anika Tahsin et al. (including Md Rofiqur Rahman) – “Coding-complete genomes of 18 SARS-CoV-2 Omicron JN.1, JN.1.4, and JN.1.11 sub-lineages in Bangladesh,” published in Microbiology Resource Announcements, Journal of the American Society for Microbiology, 2024. DOI link – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38656213/