3 Bangladeshis named among Asia’s top 100 scientists

Three Bangladeshi researchers have been named among Asia’s Top 100 Scientists by Singapore-based science magazine Asian Scientist, earning international recognition for their outstanding contributions to research and innovation.


The inclusion of three Bangladeshi scientists in the prestigious annual list is being hailed as a significant achievement for the country's research community and a testament to Bangladesh's growing presence in global science.

The Bangladeshi researchers featured in the 2026 list are young scientist Marjana Akter, Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, Executive Director of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), and Dr Mohammad Abbas Uddin Shayon, Associate Professor at Bangladesh University of Textiles (BUTEX).

According to Asian Scientist, researchers selected for the list are recognized for groundbreaking discoveries, major scientific achievements, prestigious awards, or exceptional leadership in academia and industry during the previous year.

Among the Bangladeshi honorees, Marjana Akter became the youngest scientist on this year's list. A graduate of Bangladesh Agricultural University, she gained international recognition after identifying a previously undetected virus in Bangladesh's poultry sector, marking a significant advancement in the country's virology research. In 2025, she was also selected as one of only 10 young women worldwide for the United Nations' Young Women for Biosecurity Fellowship.

Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, a globally recognized public health researcher, was honored for his long-standing contributions to combating malnutrition among mothers and children and improving diarrhoeal disease prevention and treatment. Since February 2021, he has served as Executive Director of icddr,b, becoming the first Bangladeshi to lead the institution. He is also a professor of public health nutrition at BRAC University's James P. Grant School of Public Health and an affiliate professor at the University of Washington.

The third Bangladeshi scientist on the list, Dr Mohammad Abbas Uddin Shayon, was recognized for his work on sustainable textile manufacturing and environmental protection. His project, Decarbonisation Lab for Textile Process Innovation, aims to reduce carbon emissions in textile production and promote environmentally friendly practices in the garment industry. In 2025, he was named among the world's top 10 innovators in the Global Change Award.

This year's list also includes several internationally renowned scientists, including Nobel laureates Shimon Sakaguchi and Susumu Kitagawa, as well as Abel Prize-winning mathematician Masaki Kashiwara.

Scientists and academics say the recognition will inspire a new generation of Bangladeshi researchers and further strengthen the country's standing in the global scientific community.