In Memoriam – Dr. Rafiqur Rahman Islam, Inventor of ORS

Throughout human history, certain discoveries have quietly and invisibly saved countless lives. One such groundbreaking innovation is the Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), also known as “food saline,” a life-saving remedy against deadly diseases like diarrhoea and cholera. Inextricably linked to this invaluable discovery is the name of Bangladesh’s distinguished medical scientist, Dr. Rafiqur Rahman Islam.

Dr. Islam was born in 1936 in Chauddagram, located in the present-day Comilla District of Bangladesh. From an early age, he demonstrated remarkable intellect and perseverance. Driven by a desire to alleviate human suffering, he embarked upon a career in medicine.

In 1965, he earned his MBBS degree from Dhaka Medical College. He subsequently pursued higher studies in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in the United Kingdom. This advanced education inspired him to undertake profound research in infectious diseases, particularly focusing on diarrhoea and cholera.

After completing his medical training, he joined the internationally renowned International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B). During his long tenure at the institute, he conducted extensive research on drugs and treatment methods to prevent diarrhoea and dehydration.

Among his most notable achievements was the development and popularisation of ORS. When diarrhoea or cholera causes the body to lose large amounts of water and salts, ORS provides a simple, inexpensive, and highly effective method to restore this critical balance.

During the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, refugee camps in West Bengal, India, faced severe outbreaks of cholera and diarrhoea. At the time, the primary treatment was intravenous saline, but the supply was grossly insufficient to meet the needs of the vast number of patients.

In this crisis, Dr. Islam’s research-based ORS emerged as a revolutionary solution. Prepared from readily available ingredients, this saline saved countless lives, and it is estimated that the invention has protected millions worldwide.

The internationally acclaimed British medical journal The Lancet recognised oral rehydration therapy as one of the most important medical discoveries of the twentieth century.

Following Bangladesh’s independence, the use of ORS in treating diarrhoea was widely promoted, earning it the international nickname “Dhaka Saline.” In 1980, the World Health Organization (WHO) formally recognised ORS and recommended its use globally for diarrhoeal treatment. Bangladesh’s non-governmental development organisation, BRAC, played a vital role in raising awareness about ORS among rural populations.

After decades of research and service, Dr. Islam retired from ICDDR,B in 2000. Yet, his contributions to medicine continue to be honoured worldwide. He passed away on 5 March 2018. His discovery has saved the lives of millions not only in Bangladesh but across the globe.

We pay our deepest respects and heartfelt gratitude to this extraordinary medical scientist, whose life was devoted to the welfare of humanity.