Muhammad Zafar Iqbal
On a picnic day in 2001
Born	23 December 1952(1952-12-23) Sylhet
Occupation	Physicist, writer, columnist
Nationality	Bangladeshi
Spouse(s)	Yasmeen Haque
Children	one son and one daughter

Muhammed Zafar Iqbal (Bengali: মুহম্মদ জাফর ইকবাল) (born December 23, 1952) is a very popular Bangladeshi writer of children’s books and science-fiction and also a well-known columnist. He is a professor of Computer Science at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, though originally educated as a physicist.

[edit] Early life

Muhammed Zafar Iqbal with his wife, Yasmeen Haque

Muhammed Zafar Iqbal was born on 23 December 1952 in Sylhet. His father, Foyzur Rahman Ahmed was a police officer and because of his father's occupation, he traveled to various parts of the country as a child. Zafar Iqbal was inspired by his father for writing at an early life and wrote his first science fiction at the age of seven. On 5 May 1971 Pakistan Army captured his father and killed him in front of a river. Iqbal had to dig his father’s grave to convince his mother about her husband's death. First publication of Zafar Iqbal’s science fiction came at the famous weekly "Bichitra" as he wrote a short story titled "Kopotronik Bhalobasha" (Kopotronik Love). One of the readers claimed the story as a plagiarism to make Iqbal annoyed and he wrote a series of stories under the title as a result. He passed SSC from Bogra Zilla School in 1968 and HSC in 1970 from Dhaka College. He got admitted to Dhaka University at the department of Physics in 1972. In 1976, Zafar Iqbal went to University of Washington in the USA to obtain his Ph. D. There he again met his Dhaka University classmate Yasmeen Haque, and a year later they were married. In 1992, Iqbal decided to come back to his country what according to him he had planned to do the day he had left the country.^[1] He and his wife have two children, son Nabil and daughter Yeshim, who translated the book "Amar Bondhu Rashed" (Rashed, my friend) written by her father. His elder brother Humayun Ahmed is a living legend, and considered one of the most popular writers of Bengali Language. Younger brother Ahsan Habib is the editor of satirical magazine, 'Unmad'(Mad) and a cartoonist as well as popular writer.

[edit] Life and career

Iqbal studied Physics at the University of Dhaka and graduated in 1975. He obtained his PhD from the University of Washington in 1982. He completed his post-doctoral training at the California Institute of Technology from 1983 to 1988. He joined Bell Communications Research (Bellcore), a separate corporation from the Bell Labs, which is now known as Telcordia Technologies, in 1988 and worked there as a Research Scientist until 1994. Since 1994 he is a professor and the Head of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology.

Iqbal is the holder of several US Patents (No. US patent 5392154, US patent 5550818, US patent 6226111).

[edit] Criticism

Iqbal wanted to name a residential hall in SUST as Jahanara Imam Hall. Jahanara Imam, an anti-fundamentalism activist, has a controversial image in Sylhet where Islami Chhatra Shibir (affiliated with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami) has a dominating effect. The naming decision had triggered mixed feelings in the community. However, Iqbal was unwilling to negotiate despite knowing the consequence of Shahjalal University being closed for an indefinite period of time. As a result, Shahjalal University was closed for a few months.

[edit] Literary works

[edit] Science Fiction

• Copotronic Shukh Dukkho (Copotronic Joy and Sorrow, 1976)
• Mohakashe Mohatrash (Peril in Space, 1977)
• Crugo (1988)
• Biggani Sofdor Alir Moha Moha Abiskar (The Great Inventions of Sofdor Ali the Scientist) (1992)
• Tukunzil (1993)]
• Omikronik Rupantor (Omicronic metamorphosis, 1993)
• System Ediphas
• Pri (1997)
• Triton Ekti Groher Nam (Triton, the Name of a Planet, 1988)
• Ekjon Otimanobi (A Superwoman)
• Noy Noy Sunno Tin (Nine Nine Zero Three)
• Chromium Oronno (The Cromium Forest}
• Metsys (1999)
• Nishongo Grohochari (The Lone Planetary Traveler)
• Jolojo (Born in Water) (2000)
• Robonogori (A City of Robots)
• Eron
• Project Nebula (2001)
• Obonil (Infra-Blue, 2004)
• Fobeaner Jatri (The Traveller of Fobean)
• Ruhan Ruhan (2006)
• Nayeera
• Saira Scientist (Saira The Scientist)
• Sahnaz O Captain Dablu (Shahnaz and Captain W)
• Tratuler Jagat (Tratul's World)(2002)
• Trinitry Rashimala (The Trinitry Sequence) (1995)
• Tuki O Jhayer (Pray) Dusshahoshik Obhijan (The (Almost) Dauntless Adventures of Tuki and Jha)
• Jara Biobot (The Biological Robots) (1993)
• Onuron Golok (Resonance Orb)(1996)
• Amra O Crab Nebula (2000)
• Andhokarer Groho (Planet of Darkness)(2008)
• Biggyani Anik Lumba [Anik Lumba the Scientist]
• Icarus (2009)
• Octopuser Chokh {The Eyes Of Octopus, 2009)
• Jolmanob [Man of Water] (2007)
• Phoenix
• Suhaner Shopno (Suhan's dream)

[edit] Children's Adventures

• Amar Bondhu Rashed (Rashed My Friend)
• Ami Topu (I am Topu)
• AAdh Dojon School
• Bachcha Voyonkor Kachcha Voyonkor (Children Are Dangerous)
• Bokulappu
• Brishtir Thikana (Address of Rain)
• Bubuner Baba (Bubun's Father)
• Chelemanushi (Childish)
• Dipu Number Two
• Dosshi Kojon (Little Pirates)
• Dushto Cheler Dol (Bad Boys Gang)
• Hatkata Robin
• Jarul Chowdhurir Manikjorr
• Kajoler Dinratri (Day and Night of Kajol)
• Kaabil Kohkafi
• Litu Brittanto (Story of Litu)
• Nat-Boltu
• Nitu O Taar Bondhura (Nitu and Her Friends)
• Raju O Agunalir Voot (Raju and the Ghost of Agunali)
• Schooler Naam Pothochari (A School named Pothochari)
• T-Rexer Sondhane (In Search of T-Rex)
• Tinni o Bonna (Tinni and Bonna)

[edit] Math and science

• Dekha Alor Na Dekha Rup (Seen Light Unseen Charm) (1986)
• Neurone Onuronon (with Mohammad Kaykobad)(2002)
• Neurone Onuronon 2 (with Mohammad Kaykobad)(2003)
• Gonit Abong Aro Gonit (Maths and More Maths) (with Zakaria Swapan)
• Bigganer Ekso Mojar Khela (100 Interesting Games of Science)
• Goniter Moja, Mojar Gonit (Fun of Math, Funny Math)
• Aktukhani Bigyan (A Little Science) (2007)
• Theory Of Relativity (2008)
• Quantum Mechanics (2009) ^[2]

[edit] Other works

• Pret (The Spirit)
• Tomader Prosno Amar Uttor
• Beesh Bochor Pore (As an editor)
• 2030 Saler Ekdin O Onnano
• Dusuopner Ditio Prohor (The Second Phase of a Nightmare)
• Muhabbat Alir Ekdin (A Day in the Life of Muhabbat Ali)
• Chhayaleen
• Aktukhani Biggan(February 2007)
• Akas Bariye Dao
• Biborno Tushar (Withering Snow)
• O
• Rongin Choshma [Colorful Glasses]
• Danob [Monster](2009)
• Pishachini
• Modhya Ratrite Tinjon Durbhaga Torun
• Sobuj Valvet (Green Valvet)
• Ikaras
• Nishshongo Grohochari
• Ondhokarer Groho
• Ekjon Otimanobi
• System Edifas
• Oktopaser Chokh
• Beji
• Biggyani Onik Lumba

[edit] References

1. ^ Haider, Mahtab (2006-01-01), "Muhammed Zafar Iqbal:A life in quantum leap", The New Age, http://www.newagebd.com/2006/jan/01/newyear06/heroes01.html 
2. ^ , http://rapidshare.com/files/275585299/QUANTUM_MECHANICS__BY_JAFOR_IQBAL.pdf.html 

[edit] See also

• A column by Iqbal
• Head, CSE Dept. SUST
• Muhammad Zafar Iqbal: A life in quantum leap (New Age magazine, 2005)