Abdullah-Al-Muti

Sheikh Abdullah Al Muti Sharafuddin (1 January 1930 – 30 November 1998), known as Abdullah Al Muti, was a Bangladeshi educationalist and science writer.^[1] He wrote tough scientific ideas in an easy fashion suitable for children and teenagers. He became first Bangladeshi writer to win the UNESCO Kalinga Prize in 1983.^[2] He had earned major national awards - Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1975, Ekushey Padak in 1985 and Independence Day Award in 1995.^[3][4][5]

Abdullah Al Muti
আব্দুল্লাহ আল মুতী
President of Bangla Academy
In office 13 November 1986 – 13 November 1990
Preceded by	Abu Mohammed Habibullah
Succeeded by	Gazi Shamsur Rahman
Personal details
Born	(1930-01-01)1 January 1930 Sirajganj, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died	30 November 1998(1998-11-30) (aged 68)
Nationality	Bangladeshi
Education	MSc (Physics) MA (Education) PhD (Education)
Alma mater	University of Dhaka University of Chicago
Occupation	Educationalist, writer
Awards	full list

Early life

Abdullah Al-Muti was on 1 January 1930 in Fulbari village of Sirajganj in East Bengal.^[1] His father's name is Sheikh Moin Sharafuddin and his mother is Halima Begum. In 1945, attending matriculation (presently SSC) from Muslim High School, Dhaka he placed second in Kolkata board. Two years later he passes IA exam (presently HSC) and got admitted in the University of Dhaka. He completed his B.Sc.^{[citation needed]} and M.Sc. in physics standing first class first in 1952 and 1953 respectively. Then he got a scholarship from US government and went to University of Chicago, Illinois. There he accomplished MA (education) and PhD (education) in 1960 and 1962 respectively.^[6]

Career

Muti started his career as a lecturer in physics at the Dhaka Central Jail in 1954. He became professor in the same jail in 1955. He held the post Director, Education Extension Center, Dhaka from 1965 to 1973. He also held various positions at different foreign embassies of Bangladesh, including Education and Culture Councilor, Joint Secretary, Additional Secretary, and Secretary at the Education and Science Ministry at different times. After his retirement in 1986, he was the chief adviser of Secondary Scientific Education Program financed by ADB and UNDP. Besides he also presented several science related popular programs in radio and television.^{[citation needed]}

Muti started writing on science since his school days. At that time he contributed articles to the Dainik Azad ('Mukuler Mahfil') and Monthly Mohammadi. He was also associated with editing tabloid magazines named 'Mukul' and 'Mukul Fouz'. Besides, he also wrote about prospects of education in the Monthly 'Hullor' and 'Dilruba.^{[citation needed]}

Muti wrote 27 books on science and education. He also translated 10 books from English into Bengali. He was the executive editor of UNESCO Batayan, a quarterly Bengali edition of Unesco Courier from 1982 until his death.^{[citation needed]}

Awards

• Independence Day Award (1995)
• Ekushey Padak (1985)
• Kalinga Award of UNESCO (1983)
• Bangla Academy Literary Award (1975)
• Shishu Academy Award
• Qudrat-i-Khuda Gold Medal