Bangladesh Glaucoma Society- Looking behind

On October 03, 2007 Prof. M. Mustafizur Rahman convened a meeting at a local restaurant at Dhanmondi, Dhaka to form the Glaucoma Society in Bangladesh. Twenty eight OSB members along with Prof. Syed Modasser Ali was present in that meeting. The society was formed and named as "Bangladesh Glaucoma Society" (BGS). All that 28 members are now designated as founder members of the BGS. Nineteen member executive committee was formed with Prof. M. Mustafizur Rahman as president. Prof. Sk. M.A Mannaf President elect, Prof. Syed Maruf Ali General Secretary and myself as Treasurer. We observed the World Glaucoma Day 2008 on 6 March as a new society. On that day we had colorful Rally from Shahbagh National Museum to Press Club and also hold press conference and discussion on Glaucoma at the Conference Hall of the Press Club.

Our Skill

an EC meeting of BGS, responsibility was given to me to communicate and to get affiliation with the World Glaucoma Association, so that we can attend the 3rd World Glaucoma Congress. Within 3 months we got the affiliation of the WGA and got opportunity to attend the WGC 2009 as a member country. In 2009, we also observed the World Glaucoma Day on 12 March. This time we had rally from Shahid Suhrawardy Hospital to National Institute of Ophthalmology. We also hold press conference and a seminar on Glaucoma at a local restaurant, Dhanamondi, Dhaka. Prof. Syed Modasser Ali was kind enough to be the chief guest in that seminar.

In an EC meeting of the BGS it was decided that our society should represent 3rd World Glaucoma Congress to be held in USA on July 8-11, 2009. For unavoidable reason our president and general secretary of BGS could not attend the meeting, but myself alongwith Dr. Muhammad Ziaul Karim and Dr. MA Karim attended the congress. We presented our society poster in the congress describing our activities. Our poster was highly appreciated by the organizers. The Global Assembly of all the National Glaucoma Society started at 1.30 pm, July 08, 2009 at the Hynes Convention Centre at Boston, USA. This time the name of our society and our National Flag was placed in the middle of the 1st row. Dr. MA Karim and myself took our reserved seats.

After opening of the assembly by president Dr. Remo Susanna, Dr. Tarek Shaarawy came to introduce the new national glaucoma societies. He informed that 10 new glaucoma society was formed by the last 2 years. He declared the name in alphabetical order. So, the first name he declared was "Bangladesh Glaucoma Society". We stood up and paid respect to all members present. It was truly our utmost satisfaction that we could be an active member of the World Glaucoma Family and we could represent our country in an world assembly.-

Team of BGS

In December 2009, we had EC meeting and election in the society. Prof. Sk. M.A Mannaf became the president, Prof. Syed Maruf Ali President elect and I became the General Secretary. This year we celebrated World Glaucoma Day(WGD) on 12 March & World Glaucoma Week from 7-13 March. President of the Ophthalmological Society of Bangladesh Prof. Ava Hossain inaugurated the week from National Institute of Ophthalmology, Dhaka. This year we distributed posters, leaflets, banners to aware our general people about glaucoma blindness. Special talks were given to Radio & TV . There was a discussion meeting with doctors, nurses glaucoma patients & journalists at the auditorium of National Institute of Ophthalmology, Dhaka.In the new committee we had EC meeting every two months along with CME programmes. We also had a very successful and an extra ordinary EC meeting with CME program at Sirajgonj North Bengal Medical College in August 2010 by the invitation and help of our respectable Adviser Prof. M.A. Matin. In July 2011, Eleven member of Bangladesh Glaucoma Society attended the 4th World Glaucoma Congress held at Paris. Our society displayed a colorful poster in the Congress. Our members presented their oral papers in the congress. On 21 January 2012 2nd National Conference of BGS was held at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel. More than 300 eye & glaucoma specialists attended the conference. New executive committee was formed. Prof. Syed Maruf Ali became the president of the society. Myself as president elect and Prof. Md. Mizanur Rahman as General Secretary. On March 2012 BGS celebrated the World Glaucoma Day and Week. To aware our general population about glaucoma leaflets, posters, banners were published. Rally was held by members of the society. A seminar was also held in a local restaurant. Glaucoma specialist, Eye specialist, glaucoma patients and journalists attended the seminar. The CME program of the society is being held regularly. On 2nd June CME on Glaucoma surgery was held at a local hotel in Sylhet where Late Prof. M A Matin attended as Chief Guest. On 13 June we lost our respected adviser. To discuss on different aspects of late Prof. M A Matin’s life a seminar was held on 14 July 2012 at OSB auditorium. According to our BGS constitution the main objectives of our society are-To prevent blindness due to glaucoma.

  • To improve treatment of glaucoma.
  • To do research on glaucoma.
  • To participate in the national & international seminars & conferences on glaucoma.
  • To arrange seminars, symposium & conferences on updates of glaucoma.
  • To Organize Annual National Conference of the society every year.

We believe Bangladesh Glaucoma Society (BGS) will try to aware our people about Glaucoma, its early diagnosis and appropriate management.

Prof. M. Nazrul Islam
Advisor
Bangladesh Glaucoma Society