The Bangladesh Academy of Pathology was officially launched and its first general meeting was held in the Department of Pathology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, on Friday, the 7th of December 2012. A total of 58 specialist pathologists from all over the country were present at the meeting. Twenty councillors were elected, amongst whom, the President, President elect, Vice President, Treasurer and General Secretary were selected for the next two years. The elected councillors were: Dr. A J E Nahar Rahman (President), Dr. Mohammed Kamal (President elect), Dr. Kaniz Rasul (Vice President), Dr. Ashim Ranjan Barua (Treasurer), and Dr. Maleeha Hussain (General Secretary), Dr. Md Sadequel Islam Talukder, Dr. S M Badruddoza, Dr. Sukumar Saha, Dr. Abed Hossain, Dr. M Shahabuddin Ahmed, Dr. AFM Saleh, Dr. PK Gosh, Dr. Shabnam Akhter, Dr. Shamiul Islam Sadi, Dr. Kamrul Hassan Khan, Dr. Farooque Ahmed, Dr Abdul Mannan Sikder, Dr. Col. Mahbubul Alam, Dr. Taslima Hossain and Dr. AUM Muhsin.
Inception of the Bangladesh Academy of Pathology
- Mohammed Kamal, VisitingProfessor, Department of Pathology, BSMMU.
- Maleeha Hussain, Retd Professor of Pathology, DMC.
Bangladesh Academy of Pathology (BAP), which is now a trusted stakeholder for the histopathologists of Bangladesh, started its journey in 2012 with 58 founder members. The seed of BAP planted in 2012 is now in its full bloom with 370 committed members. Before looking back into the path it has travelled, the early days of surgical pathology needs to be revisited.
During the period of early nineteen sixties to early nineteen seventies, surgical pathology was in its early stages in Bangladesh. Pathology was a combined department that included pathology, microbiology, biochemistry, and clinical pathology in all medical colleges except IPGMR, where pathology was a separate department.Between 1992 and1994, Microbiology became a separate department in the Medical Colleges, later on Clinical Pathology followed them.Until mid-seventies before the establishment of Labex by Dr Moinul Hossain (who left the country in early eighties) and The Medical Laboratory by Prof AJE Nahar Rahman, histopathology examination service was available only in Medical Colleges and IPGMR.
With the emergence of a new generation of pathologists, surgical pathology was gradually gaining momentum in Bangladesh. At the same time, specialists from different disciplines recognized the need for individual professional organization that would exercise scientific activities as well look after the welfare of members. Thus, members from different allied disciplines together formed the Bangladesh Society of Pathologists (BSP) to work under one umbrella. BSP functioned smoothly for one and a half decade but was gradually losing its focus as members of different disciplines began forming their societies or organizations. Between 1999 and 2008, microbiologists, medical biochemists, and laboratory medicine personnel formed their respective associations.
The journey of Histopathologists through BSP, Asia Pacific Association of Societies of Pathologists (APASP), and SACH also paved the way for forming a separate association. After several meeting and conferences,in2012SAARC Association of Cytopathologists and Histopathologists (SACH) was formed with members from SAARC countries. Along with these shared experiences, scientific activities focusing on surgical pathology was expanding.In 2011, the Histopathologists of Bangladesh recognized the need of a separate platform to enhance the scientific and professional status of specialists in teaching, training, and practicing Histopathology. A few senior pathologists conceptualized forming BAP and disseminated the idea among histopathologists in Bangladesh. A study group was formed with the initiation of Prof. Mohammed Kamal to work on the constitution for a dedicated organization of Histopathologists. Dr. Maleeha Hussain was assigned the responsibility of making a draft constitution which she accepted gracefully.
The name ‘Bangladesh Academy of Pathology (BAP)’ was proposed for the new organization.
After reviewing constitutions of surgical pathology societies of other countries and Divisions of the International Academy of Pathology (IAP) in neighboring and other countries, a draft constitution was proposed for the new organization, wheremembership criteria, the structure of the office bearers and the election procedure were outlined based on IAP guidelines . This was done so that the organization can achieve international recognition and affiliation of IAP in the future.
From 2011 to 2012, there were many discussions in small groups, on proposed constitutions and refinements were made to the membership criteria and the election procedure to form an inclusive committee where histopathologists from Cox’s Bazar toDinajpur can have representation.
The proposed organization had the following objectives: 1. To promote the knowledge and skill of histopathologists. 2. To uphold the interests of histo and cytopathologists. 3. To organize meetings, congresses, lectures, seminars, workshops, etc. to disseminate the latest information related to histopathology. 4. To foster education in histopathology in different institutions. 5. To initiate affiliation with the International Academy of Pathology (IAP) and other organizations. The draft constitution was distributed among the histopathologists to have comments, suggestions and recommendations.
A meeting was held on 7th December, 2012, at the Department of Pathology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University with the aim of forming the BAP. The meeting was attended by 58 specialist pathologists from across the country. The proposed constitution was adopted through a popular vote by raising of hands and the signatures of the 58 founder members, officially launching the ‘Bangladesh Academy of Pathology’. After that the first general meeting was held at the same venue, followed by the first election to elect 20 councillors, who in turn elected the first office bearers of BAP.
During the council meeting, the councillors elected the new office bearers for the upcoming two years. The newly elected office bearers were Dr. A J E Nahar Rahman as President, Dr. Mohammed Kamal as President-elect, Dr. Kaniz Rasul as Vice President, Dr. Ashim Ranjan Barua as Treasurer and Dr. Maleeha Hussain as General Secretary. The following councilors were also elected: Dr. Md Sadequel Islam Talukder, Dr. S M Badruddoza, Dr. Sukumar Saha, Dr. Abed Hossain, Dr. M Shahabuddin Ahmed, Dr. AFM Saleh, Dr. PK Ghosh, Dr. Shabnam Akhter, Dr. Shamiul Islam Sadi, Dr. Kamrul Hassan Khan, Dr. Farooque Ahmed, Dr. Abdul Mannan Sikder, Dr. Col. Mahbubul Alam, Dr. Taslima Hossain, and Dr. AUM Muhsin. The council also issued a press release regarding the same.
The office of BAP was functioning without a proper logo until Prof. Kamal took the responsibility of designing one. He presented a few logo samples, and one was approved by the committee before the 1st National Convention on 4th December, 2014. The BAPprogressedsmoothly with much enthusiasm, except for the lengthy registration process. In 2016, Brigadier Dr. Mahbubul Alam, as General Secretary of BAP and Professor Paritosh Kumar Ghosh successfully completed the registration of BAP. Another significant milestone was the launch of ‘The Journal of Histopathology and Cytopathology’ in January 2017, which has been running successfully for last eight years. Although BAP achieved many accomplishments, there is still much to be done, including improvement of histopathology and cytology services, providing training in sub-specialties, affiliation with IAP, continuing medical education, quality assurance of the training within the country, upgrading the JHC to a high impact journal, and safeguarding the interest of themembers.
The founding members of BAP have given up their time,energy, and passion to make BAP a fast growing, well reputed organization in the country. Now it is the aspiring young pathologists who are to carry the torch of BAP and the seniors are always by their side to cheer, inspire and guide. Let BAP be the voice of the Histopathologists of Bangladesh and the architect to shape their professional future.
“Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives – choice, not chance, determines your destiny” – Aristotle.
