United News of Bangladesh

International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) has mourned the death of Dr Abdul Majid Molla, one of the pioneering researchers behind Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) and Rice ORS, and a distinguished figure in paediatrics and global public health. Majid Molla passed away on May 8, 2026 in Dhaka at the age of 85. Born in 1941, he devoted his life to improving child health, advancing diarrhoeal disease research, and strengthening medical education across South Asia and beyond. His long association with icddr,b began in 1965 at the then Pak-SEATO Cholera Research Laboratory (CRL), shortly after completing his MBBS degree from Dhaka Medical College in 1963. In 1975, Majid Molla completed his PhD at the University of Leuven, Belgium, focusing on celiac disease in children with diarrhoea, while also specialising in paediatrics. He rejoined icddr,b as a scientist in 1978, continuing his work in clinical research, patient care, and child health. Majid Molla was widely respected for his devotion to patient care and his commitment to scientific excellence. His significant contributions to clinical research, especially the development of Rice ORS, remain among the landmark achievements in diarrhoeal disease management. In the mid-1980s, he joined Aga Khan University as Professor and Chair of the Department of Paediatrics. He later joined Kuwait University as Professor of Paediatrics in 1992, continuing his contributions to medical education and child health internationally. Majid Molla is survived by his wife, one son, and two daughters. His wife Dr Ayesha Molla was also a valued member of the icddr,b community, serving as an Associate Scientist. During a defining period in the history of diarrhoeal disease research, Majid Molla became part of a generation of scientists and clinicians whose work contributed to transforming the treatment of dehydration and saving millions of lives worldwide. His contributions to ORS and Rice ORS helped advance one of the most important public health innovations in modern medicine. Majid Molla leaves behind a legacy that continues to shape healthcare around the world, and his work stands as part of a scientific journey that has improved and saved countless lives across generations, according to a press release.