Renowned gynaecologist TA Chowdhury no more

Swadhinata Award recipient prominent gynaecologist Dr AHM Touhidul Anowar Chowdhury, widely known as TA Chowdhury, passed away today (9 March) at his Shantinagar residence in the capital.

Prof Dr Ferdousi Begum, former president of Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Bangladesh (OGSB), confirmed the development to The Business Standard.

Dr TA Chowdhury, aged 87, had been battling heart problems, among other age-related health complications, she added. 

"He was more than just a great teacher of medicine—he was a teacher of life. From him, we gained not only medical knowledge but also invaluable lessons on living and communicating. His immense contributions to Bangladesh's healthcare sector will be remembered forever," said Dr Ferdousi.

TA Chowdhury was born on 10 October 1937 in Dhaka. He completed his MBBS from Dhaka Medical College in 1960, securing first place with honours marks. Later, he enrolled at King Edward Medical College in Lahore. After completing his first year, he received a government scholarship to study at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, where he earned his FRCS. In 1965, Chowdhury passed MRCOG from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in London. 

After returning to Bangladesh, he joined Sir Salimullah Medical College, where he served for six years before being transferred to Chittagong Medical College. In the 1980s, he became part of the then-IPGMR (now Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University) and was appointed as its director in 1987. He retired in 1994.

In 2017, the Government of Bangladesh awarded him the Independence Award for his contributions to medical science, particularly in gynecology and obstetrics.

Most recently, he served as a professor and head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at BIRDEM Hospital. He was also the founding General Secretary of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Society of Bangladesh and later went on to serve as its President.