Dr. Abdul Hafiz, Renowned Banglasdeshi-American Physician Who Smiled Through His Singing, Dies at 90 February 19, 1930 - August 3, 2020
A Fulbright Scholar, an iconic photographer of Shahid Minar and a Vespa enthusiast, who inspired generations of Bangladeshi-American physicians as President of Bangladesh Medical Association of North America (BMANA)
In Memoriam : Dr. Abdul Hafiz Memorial Service
Date: September 19, 2020
Time: 700 PM - 800 PM EST
Location : Virtual event via Zoom
Attendance by Invitation only
If you are a family, or friend and would like to be invited, please send an email to: iahmad65@hotmail.com
By, Imtiaz Ahmad, MD
Sept. 11, 2020
Dr. Abdul Hafiz, 90, Banglasdeshi-American Physician, Fulbright scholar and ex-President of BMANA, passed away peacefully in Cape Coral, Florida on Monday, August 3, 2020 due to COVID-19. He was 90.
Dr. Hafiz was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh on February 19, 1930. He received his medical degree from Dhaka Medical College (DMC) in 1956. Dr. Hafiz was a biker and used to come to DMC riding his Vespa motor scooter, a rarity in 1950’s Dhaka city in the then East-Pakistan. He was awarded Fulbright Scholarship for Surgical training and later, switched to residency in Radiology from Southside Medical Center, Ohio in 1967. Despite opposition from friends and family, his determination to be successful in his career, led him to migrate to the USA and be the pioneering Bangladeshi-American physician.
During 1952 Bengali language movement, he was actively involved in politics and took the photograph of first Shaheed Minar which was built by the students of Dhaka Medical College but later destroyed by police in a few hours. His photograph became an iconic legacy for Bengali Language Movement.
He was a founding member of BMANA and served two terms as President of BMANA, in 1989-91 and 1991-93. During his presidency, BMANA raised $50,000 for flood victims in Bangladesh. He received the BMANA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.
He was a devoted follower of Bengali music and culture. Dr. Hafiz was an accomplished singer as well. He used to sing Tagore’s songs during cultural programs in BMANA’s and Bangladesh Medical Association of North America, Florida (BMANAFL)’s annual conventions. One of his favorite Tagore’s song lyrics, to be played during the memorial service, is as follows :
He is survived by his daughter, Ishraq A. (Robert Stare) Hafiz-Stare, his son, Tanvir (Dorothy) Hafiz, grandchildren: Amani A. (Ryan) Hafiz Engelhardt; great granddaughter Andrea Belle Engelhardt and great grandson Richard Adam Engelhardt, grandson, Jacob Silver, his brother, Abdul Aziz and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dr. Rawnaq A Hafiz.
We all, on behalf of Dr. Hafiz’s family and Bangladeshi-American physicians in the United States pray for his departed soul.
” O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him and give him strength and pardon him. Be generous to him and cause his entrance to be wide and wash him with water and snow and hail. Cleanse him of his transgressions as white cloth is cleansed of stains. Give him an abode better than his home, and a family better than his family and a wife better than his wife. Take him into Paradise and protect him from the punishment of the grave [and from the punishment of Hell-fire]. “
Sahih Muslim Hadith 2/663