:Draft:Quamrun Nahar

Quamrun Nahar (born 25 November 1967) is a Bangladeshi nutritionist, researcher, and public health expert affiliated with BIRDEM General Hospital in Dhaka. She is widely recognized for her work in developing national dietary guidelines, conducting clinical and community nutrition research, and promoting food security and healthy dietary practices in Bangladesh.

Nahar has authored or co-authored over 35 scientific publications, including books, journal articles, technical reports, and conference abstracts. Among her most influential works are the national dietary guidelines of Bangladesh: the second edition of Jatio Khaddya Grohon Nirdeshika (2022), its earlier version in 2015, and the Dietary Guidelines for Bangladesh (2013), developed in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). She also co-authored the report Desirable Dietary Pattern for Bangladesh (2013), which served as a foundational document for food and nutrition policy.

Nahar has played a key role in shaping nutrition-related public health policies through collaboration with the Ministry of Food, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and other national agencies. Her research has contributed significantly to non-communicable disease prevention, food labeling standards, and nutritional interventions for diabetic and vulnerable populations in Bangladesh.

Quamrun Nahar was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh. She earned her MSc and PhD in Nutrition and Food Science from the University of Dhaka. Her academic background laid the foundation for a career dedicated to improving the nutritional well-being of the Bangladeshi population through research, policy, and public health education.

Dr. Nahar serves as Chief Research Officer and Lab In-Charge of the Department of Clinical Pharmacology at BIRDEM. She is also the Coordinator of the CND (Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics) Training Program. Over her career, she has focused on clinical nutrition, non-communicable diseases, food security, micronutrient deficiency, and community-based interventions. She has led various nutrition education and intervention programs and played an instrumental role in shaping national dietary policy.

Dr. Nahar has authored and co-authored over 40 peer-reviewed research articles and several influential national guidelines and technical reports. Her work is frequently cited in public health nutrition research and policy papers.

Dr. Nahar is best known for co-authoring Bangladesh’s key national dietary guidelines and related policy documents:

• Nahar Q, Choudhury S, Faruque MO, Sultana SSS, Siddiquee MA (2022). Jatio Khaddya Grohon Nirdeshika (2nd edition). Published by the Ministry of Food and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Bangladesh.

• Nahar Q, Choudhury S, Faruque MO, Sultana SSS, Siddiquee MA (2015). Jatio Khaddya Grohon Nirdeshika (1st edition). Published by the Ministry of Food and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

• Nahar Q, Choudhury S, Faruque MO, Sultana SSS, Siddiquee MA (2013). Dietary Guidelines for Bangladesh. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). [https://www.fao.org/nutrition/education/food-dietary-guidelines/regions/countries/bangladesh/en/ Link]

• Nahar Q, Faruque MO, Choudhury S, Sultana SSS, Siddiquee MA (2013). Desirable Dietary Pattern for Bangladesh. BIRDEM & NFPCSP. [https://www.nfpcsp.org/agridrupal/sites/default/files/ToR%2015-%20Fial%20Report%20BIRDEM.pdf Link]

Dr. Quamrun Nahar has contributed extensively to nutrition science, environmental health, and dietary risk assessment in Bangladesh. Her multidisciplinary research has been published in high-impact peer-reviewed journals and institutional reports. Selected publications include:

• Hosen, M. M., Alam, M. N. E., Tonni, F. S., Khan, S. R., Maksud, M. A., Lutfa, L. N., Nahar, Q., & Quraishi, S. B. (2024). "Exploration of toxic and essential metals in popular rice grains of Bangladesh and associated human health risk implications." Biological Trace Element Research – Springer Nature, 202(8), 3851–3867.

• Alam, M. N. E., Ullah, A. K. M. A., Hosen, M. M., Akon, S., Nahar, Q., Jolly, F., & Quraishi, S. B. (2023). "Macro-micro elements distribution, nutritional value and age-based risk assessment of branded liquid and powder milks available in Dhaka, Bangladesh." Atomic Energy Center Dhaka, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC). [https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2942538/v1 DOI link]

• National Nutrition Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Shaheen, N., Imam, M. A., Jahan, K., Bulbul, M. M. I., Bhattacharjee, L., Kabir, A. I., Hossain, D., Nawaz, S., Sharmin, T., Hossain, M. R., Sharmin, F., Jahan, K., Mustaphi, P., Azim, A., Shabnam, F., Roy, S. K., Islam, M. H., & Nahar, Q. (2021). "Food packages for disaster-affected population in Bangladesh: Technical recommendations." Published by Bangladesh National Nutrition Council, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

• Nahar, Q., Moushumi, N. S., Fariha, I., Shammy, S. A., & Begum, R. (2022). "Nutrient consumption among the Bangladeshi children with autism." Annals of International Medical and Dental Research, 8(3), 122–129.

• Nahar, Q., Ara, T., Fariha, I., Rahman, M., & Begum, S. M. F. (2022). "Bone mineral density in an urban hospital in Dhaka city of Bangladesh." Annals of International Medical and Dental Research, 8(3), 114–121.

• Nahar, Q., Begum, R., & Fariha, F. (2022). "Vitamin D3D2 status and its associated factors of an urban tertiary care hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh." IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences, 21(1), 32–36. [https://www.iosrjournals.org/ Link]

• Nazrul, I. M., Akther, F., Sultana, S. S. S., & Nahar, Q. (2015). "Assessment of micro-nutritional malnutrition in an urban area of Bangladesh among the adult population on the basis of individual dietary diversity score (IDDS)." Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences, 5(3), 1–5.

• Atique Ullah, A. K. M., Afrin, S. I., Hosen, M. M., Musarrat, M., Ferdoushy, T., Nahar, Q., & Quraishi, S. B. (2021). "Concentration, source identification and potential human health risk assessment of heavy metals in chicken meat and egg in Bangladesh." Environmental Science and Pollution Research (Springer). [https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-17342-4 DOI link]

• Musarrat, M., Atique Ullah, A. K. M., Moushumi, N. S., Akon, S., Nahar, Q., Sultana, S. S. S., & Quraishi, S. B. (2021). "Assessment of heavy metal(loid)s in selected small indigenous species of industrial area origin freshwater fish and potential human health risk implications in Bangladesh." LWT – Food Science and Technology (Elsevier), 150, 112041. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2021.112041 DOI link]

In addition to the above, Dr. Nahar has contributed to technical reports, academic journals, and conference abstracts addressing nutrition in children, maternal health, metabolic disorders, and dietary habits.

Dr. Nahar is a sought-after speaker and has presented at numerous academic and professional forums. Notable presentations include:

• Validity of Low Cut-Off Point of Body Mass Index Suggested by the World Health Organization for the Bangladeshi Population – 10th Diabetes and Endocrine Conference, Dhaka, November 2004.
• Keynote speech on Food-Based Dietary Guidelines at BIRTAN.
• Keynote address at the workshop titled Lifestyle and Dietary Modification for Sedentary Officials.

Dr. Nahar is affiliated with several professional organizations, including:

• Network of Instrument Technical Personnel and User Scientists of Bangladesh (NITUB)
• American Nutrition Society
• European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD)
• Asian Network of Research on Antidiabetic Plants (ANRAP)
• Bangladesh National Nutrition Council (BNNC)
• Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation (BBF)
• INFS Alumni Association – Treasurer

Dr. Nahar has two daughters. She resides in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

1. https://dab-bd.org/sub-page.php?sub_category=48

2. https://nutritionsummit.com.bd/speakers/

3. http://dspace.daffodilvarsity.edu.bd:8080/bitstream/handle/123456789/11582/25164.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

4. https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/9fdfbe0e-c3f6-45e0-a45d-39a53b4fd5b5/content

5. https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=HAObYIUAAAAJ&hl=en

6. https://mofood.gov.bd/site/page/744d00cb-5bab-497e-941b-0361c7260900/জাতীয়-খাদ্য-গ্রহণ-নির্দেশিকা,-২০২০

7. https://fpmu.mofood.gov.bd/site/publications/9d38d524-6ebb-4616-9310-fcb07114c2e6/জাতীয়-খাদ্য-গ্রহণ-নির্দেশিকা-২০২০

• [https://www.fao.org/nutrition/education/food-dietary-guidelines/regions/countries/bangladesh/en/ Dietary Guidelines for Bangladesh – FAO]
• [https://www.nfpcsp.org/agridrupal/sites/default/files/ToR%2015-%20Fial%20Report%20BIRDEM.pdf Desirable Dietary Pattern – BIRDEM Report]

{{t|Bangladeshi scientists}}

{{t|Living people}}

{{t|Nutritionists}}

{{t|Public health researchers}}

{{t|1967 births}}

{{reflist}}