JU Professor Dr Monowar Hossain nominated for Wildlife Conservation Award 2025

Dr Md Monowar Hossain, a Zoology professor at Jahangirnagar University, has been nominated for the National Wildlife Conservation Award 2025 in the individual category for his contributions to education and research on wildlife. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change confirmed the nomination through an official gazette issued on June 18.

A dedicated researcher and educator in the field of wildlife, Professor Hossain has made significant contributions to the field by generating DNA barcodes for 122 species of wildlife and submitting them to a gene bank, thus helping build a comprehensive database for wildlife species in Bangladesh. His work also spans extensive research and academic contributions on butterflies, bees, dragonflies, and various other wildlife species.

Born in Jamalpur in 1971, Dr Hossain earned his PhD from Kanazawa University, Japan, in 2007. He previously worked as a research fellow on butterfly colour vision at Yokohama City University from 1999 to 2001. Since 2021, he has also been serving as a Collaborative Professor and International Exchange Adviser at Kanazawa University.

Dr Hossain joined Jahangirnagar University in 1996 and has since focused his work on insect taxonomy, ecology, and conservation biology, with a special emphasis on molecular and biochemical tools. He has led several nationally important projects, including contributions to the IUCN Red List update and a DNA barcoding initiative under UGC and World Bank funding.

He co-authored Butterflies of Bangladesh: A Pictorial Handbook, considered a landmark publication in zoological research. He is also the founder of the Butterfly Park and Research Centre (BPRC) at JU and the initiator of the annual Butterfly Fair, which promotes conservation awareness among youth and scholars alike.

In recognition of his environmental work, Dr Hossain previously received the National Environment Award in 2023 and the Channel i Nature Conservation Award in 2020.

Congratulating him on the latest honour, Jahangirnagar University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan said in a statement:

"We are delighted that Dr Md Monowar Hossain has been nominated for the National Wildlife Conservation Award 2025. This recognition reflects his tireless efforts in wildlife and environmental research and innovation. His achievements have brought honour and pride to the university. I wish him continued success in his academic and research journey."

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