Maqsudul Alam (December 14, 1954 – December 20, 2014)^[1] was a Bangladeshi scientist and professor. Alam achieved four milestones in genomics: sequencing the genomes of papaya, rubber, jute and fungus.^[2] Alam was a professor of the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a member of advisory board at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology.

Following the initial success in decoding jute (tossa) genome in June 2010, Maqsudul led a team of Bangladeshi scientists in decoding the genome of a fungi deadly to jute in September 2012.

Three years into the successful genome sequencing of tossa jute, Bangladeshi scientists, under the leadership of Maqsudul, unravelled the genome sequence of deshi (white) jute in 2013.

Maqsudul had earlier decoded the genome of papaya in the US and rubber plant in Malaysia.

It all began in February 2008, when Maqsudul Alam approached Professor Ahmad Shamsul Islam, Coordinator of GNOBB (Global Network of Bangladeshi Biotechnologists) regarding the possibility of sequencing the jute genome. The Bangladeshi science community, which was already looking into the possibility of getting the jute genome sequenced, responded to this offer, which started the process. The whole process began with many long conference calls between Dr. Alam and plant molecular biologists, Professors Haseena Khan and Zeba Islam Seraj of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka. They established connection with University of Hawaii, USA and University of Science Malaysia for technical support and prepared a project proposal to collect fund from different institutions. At the beginning there were many assurance but the reality was different. In the primary stage Genome Research Center USA and University of Science Malaysia gave some technical help to collect research data about jute from all over the world. To analyze huge amount of data there arose a need for a super computer. There was still need of funding for field research. "Swapnajatra" team become frustrated by not getting proper support. It became difficult to keep engage the team members. In 2009, The Daily Prothom Alo published an article about the research that changed everything. Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury introduced Dr. Maqsudul Alam to prime minister Sheikh Hasina and assured about further support.[3] Thus team "Swapnajatra" regained their confidence and continued their work.

Alam died on December 20, 2014 at the Queen’s medical center, Honolulu, Hawaii.^[3] He was suffering from cirrhosis of the liver.^[2]

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