Dr. Nurul Islam (April 1, 1928 - January 24, 2013) was an eminent physician and Philanthropist. In 1987, he was selected as the National Professor of Bangladesh. He founded and served as the Vice-chancellor of University of Science and Technology Chittagong. He was a Founding Fellow of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences since 1973. He served as the personal physician of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Early Life and Education

Dr. Islam was born on April 1, 1928, in Mohammadpur Village, Chandanaish Upazila, Chattogram to Syedur Rahman and Gulmeher Begum. Syedur Rahman was a school teacher. Dr. Islam was the youngest of eight siblings. He passed SSC from Gacchbaria Nityananda Gourachandra English High School and ISc from Calcutta Islamia Science College in 1943 and 1945 respectively. He then earned his bachelor's in medicine from Calcutta Medical College in 1951. He completed MRCP in 1954 and TDD (Diploma in Tuberculosis Diseases) in 1955 from University of Wales. 

Career
Dr. Islam joined Mitford Hospital and then Dhaka Medical College as an Associate Professor in 1958, and Chittagong Medical College as a Professor in 1962. With Nuffield scholarship, he worked as visiting professor in London during 1963-1964. He was the founder and director of the Institute of Postgraduate Medicine Research (IPGMR) which is later renamed to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) for 24 years. He served as the Founding Dean of Faculty of Postgraduate Medicine at the University of Dhaka. In May 1989, Islam established the Institute of Applied Health and Sciences (IAHS) which was later renamed University of Science and Technology Chittagong (USTC).

Social Activism
Dr. Islam founded Islamic Medical Mission, Janasheba Foundation and ADHUNIK, an anti-tobacco organization recognized by the World Health Organization. He formulated "The Bangladesh National Drug Policy 1982". He served as the Chairman of Bangladesh First National AIDS Committee and National Drug Administration Committee.