Dr. S. M. Rafiqul Islam is a highly accomplished medical professional serving as the Head of the Gastrointestinal Unit at Dhaka Hospital, International Centre for Diarrheal Diseases Expert, Bangladesh (icddr,b) from 2001 to 2025.

With comprehensive qualifications including MBBS, MPH (Population and Reproductive Health), and MS (Microbiology), Dr. Islam has dedicated his career to advancing gastrointestinal healthcare, diarrheal disease management, and outbreak response. He is an accredited Diabetologist certified by BIRDEM under the curriculum of the University of London.

Dr. Islam has played a crucial role in global health initiatives as part of WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), providing technical expertise in cholera outbreak management across South Sudan, Iraq, and Tanzania. His work includes developing national response plans, training healthcare workers, and conducting outbreak investigations.

As Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator on multiple research projects, Dr. Islam has contributed significantly to advancing knowledge in gastrointestinal health, nutrition, and outbreak prevention. His research has been presented at international conferences in Japan, Australia, Norway, and the United Kingdom.