Dr. Amir H. Khan

Ph.D (McGill, Canada)

Professor & Advisor

Professor Dr. Amir H. Khan is a distinguished academician and researcher in the field of environmental science in general and pollution in particular. He did B.Sc (Hon’s) in Chemistry from McGill University of Canada, M.Sc in Chemistry from University of Dhaka and Ph.D in Nuclear Chemistry from McGill University. He also had rare opportunity of doing research at Ghent University, Antwerp University and also at Hungary, Spain and Institute of Sea Research at the Netherlands. He joined the then Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission and retired as Director of Atomic Energy Centre of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission. He is the pioneer researcher and Team Leader of the Air Pollution Program in Bangladesh, initiated in 1993 at the Atomic Energy Centre, Dhaka, in collaboration with IAEA. He then joined the University of Dhaka at the Department of Chemistry as a Professor and was made the Founder Director of the Centre of Excellence for Advanced Research in Physical, Chemical, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and established six advanced laboratories for research and development in multidisciplinary science. He also taught at the Department of Chemistry of Jahangirnagar University and School of Environmental Science and Management of Independent University Bangladesh. Besides his present role as Advisor of the Department of Environmental Science at SUB he is now also working at Plasma Plus+ Application and Research Laboratory as Chief Scientist and at AQ Chowdhury Science and Synergy Private Limited as Director of Science and Technology.

Publications

More than 100 publications in peer reviewed journals of repute, of which a substantial number is published in refereed International Journals in Europe, USA and Canada or by international agencies (a selected list is given below).
  1. Nabi, A. Hussam and A. H. Khan, Speciation of Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb) Carbonate and Bicarbonate in Sea Water, Bangladesh Chemical Congress 2012(BCC12), University of Dhaka, 2012.
  2. Islam , S.Z. Haider and A. H. Khan* Bio-Essential and Ecotoxic Trace Elements in Bangladesh Agroecosystem: A Case Study in two Rural Agricultural Fields, Invited Lecture , Bangladesh Chemical Congress, December 2010.
(This presentation was a part of the Ph.D Dissertation of A. Islam, Department of Chemistry, University of Dhaka, 2000, Trace Elements Profile in Bangladesh Agroenvironment A Case Study in Sonargaon, Bangladesh, directly supervised by A. H. Khan) H. Khan, Hazardous Chemicals in the Natural Environment: Ensuring Human Health Safety through Risk Analysis, Workshop on Chemical Hazards, Safety and Environment, 16-17 January, 2010, organized by ICCTB , Bangladesh Chemical Society ( BCS), University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh. A.H. Khan, Arsenic Contamination of Groundwater in Bangladesh: Ensuring Safe Drinking   Water through Mitigation Measures, Presented in the Seminar on Arsenic Problem, in Bangladesh organized by Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Dhaka, 14 February, 2010. A.H. Khan, Chemical contamination of Food: Ensuring Food Quality and Food Safety through Risk Assessment and Legislative Control Measures, In : 7th Annual Conf. on Food Security and Food Safety: Towards a One World, One Health approach, Chittagong Veterinary and     Animal Sciences University,  17-19 March, 2009. A. H. Khan, Metal Contamination in the Aquatic Environment: Ensuring Safe Drinking Water through Mitigation Measures, In: Environment and Resources, AASA (Association of Academies in Asia) Workshop, Izmir, Turkey, 25-27 September, 2009 A.H. Khan,  Water Management and Sustainable Development, Presentation  in  the 1st Symposium On Science and Technology for Sustainable Development, Organized by JSPS, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, 19 December,2009. Zia Ul Abedin, Z. Rahman, M. Hoque, T. Raihan, A. Hoque and A. H. Khan, Ion- Pair Liquid Chromatography for Melamine Analysis in Complex Sample Matrix: Quality Control and Method Validation for Trace Concentrations in Infant Formula Milk, 31st Annual Conference , Bangladesh Chemical Society, University of Dhaka, Jan 30 – 02 February, 2009. Zia Ul Abedin, Z. Rahman, M. Hoque, T. Raihan and A. H. Khan, Quality Control and Method validation  of Method  for  Analysis of Melamine  by Ion-Pair Liquid Chromatography : Application Milk Powder and Milk Products, Abstract, 12th Annual Scientific Conference ( ASCON II) on Health System Research: People’s Needs First, 9-12 February,2009, ICDDR,B Dhaka, Bangladesh. A.H. Khan, Mitigation of Arsenic Contamination of Groundwater in Bangladesh: I Arsenic Calamity of Groundwater in Bangladesh: Contamination in Water Soil and Plants, Kingshuk Roy (Editor), Nihon University Publication, Japan 2008. Julian E. Spallholz, L Mallory Boylan, M. Mahbubur Rahman, Daniel Katz, , J. David Robertson, ABM Zakaria, A. H. Khan, M. Alauddin, M. Bhattacharjee, S. Sultana, S. Khanam and Z.Choucair Selenium content of rice, mixed plant foods and fish from Bangladesh, Toxicology and Environmental Chemistry,, 2007, 1-10. Hussam, M. Habibuddowla, M. Alauddin, Z. A. Hossain, A. K. M. Munir and A. H. Khan, “Chemical Fate of Arsenic and Other Metals in Groundwater of Bangladesh: Experimental Measurement and Chemical Equilibrium Model”, J. Environ. Sci. Health, A38 (1), 71(2003). Khyrul Kabir, M. Q. Ehsan and A. H. Khan, “Anodic Stripping Voltammetry in Biological and Environmental Studies”, J. Bangladesh Chem. Soc, 15(1), (2002). Hussam, M. Alauddin, A. H. Khan, D. Chowdhury, H. Bibi, M. Bhattacharjee and S. Sultana “Solid Phase Microextraction: Measurement of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Dhaka City Air Pollution”, J. Environ. Sci. Health, A 37(7), 1223 (2002). K. M. Fazlul Hoque, M. Khaliquzzaman, M. Dilder Hossain, A. H. Khan, “Determination of Fluoride in Water Residues by Protoninduced Gamma Emission Measurements”, Fluoride, 35 (3), 176 (2002). Hussam, M. Alauddin, A. H. Khan, S. B. Rasul, and A. K. M. Munir, “Arsine Generation in Arsenic Field Kit: A Health Hazard”, International Conference on Arsenic in Bangladesh Groundwater, Wagner College, New York, February 27-28, 1999. B. Rasul, N. Ahmed, A. K. M. Munir, S. Washe, M. Khaliquzzaman, A. H. Khan, and A. Hussam, “Speciation of Arsenic in Groundwater of Bangladesh”, International Conference on Arsenic in Bangladesh Groundwater, Wagner College, New York, February 27-28, 1999. H. Khan, A. Hussam, and M. Alauddin, “Groundwater Chemistry and Arsenic Distribution in Groundwater of Bangladesh”, International Conference on Arsenic in Bangladesh Groundwater, Wagner College, New York, February 27-28, 1999. Nabi, S. Z. Haider, M. A. Islam, A. K. M. F. Kibria, and A. H. Khan, “Stripping Voltammetric Studies of Copper Glutathione Complexation in Sea Water”, J. Bangladesh Acad. Sci. 23(2), 2071 (1999). N. Rahman, M. Q. Ehsam and A. H. Khan, “Copper Glutathione interaction for Complexation and Speciation Studies at TMF Electrode in Artificial Sea Water”, Dhaka Uni. J. Sci, 46(2), 223 (1998). Khaliquzzaman, S. K. Biswas, S. A. Tarafdar, and A. H. Khan, “Analytical Quality Assurance in Trace Elements Analysis using Different Techniques in the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission”, IAEA-Sym-344/73, 343 (1997). Ali, A. H. Khan, A. K. M. Wahiduzzaman and M. A. Malek, “Trace Element Concentration in the Hair of Bangladesh Children under Normal and Malnourished Condition”, J. Radioanal. Chem, 219(1), 81 (1997). U. Rashid, A. H. Khan, M. H.Sarker. S. Akhter and M. F. Khan, “Effect of Hemodialysis on Serum Zinc, Copper and Magnesium Level in Patients with End Stage Renal Failure”, Bangladesh Renal J., 15(1), 15 (1996). M. S. Alam, M. A. Rahman, A. H. Khan and D. A. Chowdhury, “Determination of Se (IV) with Differential Pulse Cathodic Stripping Voltammetry”, Dhaka Uni. J. Sci., 44(2), 161 (1996). Khaliquzzaman, S. K. Biswas, S. A. Tarafdar, A. Islam and A. H. Khan, “Trace Elements Composition of Air Particulate Matters in Urban and Rural Areas of Bangladesh”, AECD/AFD- CH/3-44 Report, November, 1995. Khaliquzzaman, S. K. Biswas S. A. Tarafdar, and A. Islam, A. H. Khan, “Background Air Pollution Studies in Urban and Rural Areas of Bangladesh”, Research Coordination Meeting Sydney. 26-31 March, 1995. Z. Haider, A. H. Khan, N. A. Pasha, M. I. Mondel, A. Islam and M. M. Alam, “On the Aspects of Greenhouse Gas Emission Studies in Bangladesh: Methane Emission from Rice Paddies”, BAS Int. Sym. Dhaka, 27-30 March, 1995. M. F. Kibria, M. Sh. Mridha and A. H. Khan,”Electrochemical Studies of Nickel Electrode for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction”, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy , 20(6), 435 (1995). A. Tarafdar, A. H. Khan, D. A. Hadi, F. B. A. Maroof and M. Ali, “Application of PIXE, NAA and Other Techniques for the Determination of Toxic Elements in Foodstuffs and Drinking Water in Bangladesh”, IAEA Report NAHRES-23, P. 71 (1994). M. Salehuddin, A. H. Khan, S. A. Tarafdar and M. M. M. Rahman, “Study of Possible Contamination of Jute Fibre with Petroleum Based Hydrocarbons Carcinogens and their Migration to Foodstuffs”, J. Bangladesh Acad. Sci., 18(2), 117-125, (1994) M. Salehuddin and A. H. Khan, “A Comparative Study of Different Stationary Phases of Gas-Liquid Chromatography for the Determination of Some Phenolic Compounds in Tobacco Condensate”, J. Bangladesh Acad. Sci. 17 (2), 257 (1993). A. Haque, S. Z. Haider S. A. Tarafdar and A. H. Khan, “The Inventory of Inorganic Nitrogen in the Surface Water Ecosystem (Lakes and Rivers) in and around Dhaka City”, J. Bangladesh Chem. Soc., 6 (1), 15-23, (1993). M. F. Kibria, M. Sh. Mridha and A. H. Khan, “Electrocatalytic Behaviour of Nickel Electrode in Alkaline Water Electrolysis”, Conference paper, 5th Int. Energy Conference, Seoul, South Korea, October, 1993. H. Khan, “The Current Status of Nuclear Analytical Technology in Bangladesh: Materials Analysis and Environmental Studies (Coordination Meeting Report)”, IAEA/UNDP/RCA Report on Sustainable Development, RAS/92/073, (1993). H. Khan, M. Khaliquzzaman, S. A. Tarafdar, S. K. Biswas and A. Islam, “Background Air Pollution Studies in Urban and Rural Areas of Bangladesh using Nuclear-related Analytical Techniques (Conf. Report)”, IAEA Report NAHRES 19, p. 47 (1993). A. Tarafdar, M. Ali, A. Islam, and A.H. Khan,”Level of Some Trace and Minor Elements in Bangladeshi Meat Products”, Radioanal. NucI. Chem., 3(9), 152 (1991). H. Khan, D. K. Saha and S. K. Biswas, “Urine Level of Trace Elements in some Adults in Bangladesh under Workplace Environment”, Int. J. Radiat. Isotopes, 41(2), 143 (1990). Sh. Mridha, A. H. Khan and M. A. Wazed Miah, “Hydrogen Energy Prospects in Bangladesh”, Proc. Int. Conf. on Hydrogen Energy Progress VIII, Hawaii, vol. I, p 125, 22-27 July, 1990.

Awards & Achievements

  • Colombo Plan Fellowship for Ph.D research.
  • Al-Kharajmi International Award for Scientific Achievement.
  • Fellow, Bangladesh Academy of Sciences.
  • Gold Medal from Bangladesh Academy of Sciences in Physical Sciences.
  • Best Scientific Achievement Certificate from Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission.
  • Senior EEC Fellowship for Advanced Research in Marine Chemistry and Pollution (Heavy Metals) at Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands.