Major General (Retd) Dr MA Mohaiemen, who had played a pioneering role as a military cardiothoracic surgeon of East Pakistan and independent Bangladesh, passed away on August 3 at the age of 85.

Dr Mohaiemen, one of a few officers to have taken part in both the 1965 and 1971 wars, breathed his last at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka where he was being treated for old-age complications.

"At the time of his passing, he was surrounded by his former students and colleagues at the CMH, and I was with him for all the final hours," said his son Naeem Mohaiemen.

He was buried at Banani Military Graveyard on August 3 through a full military funeral and Guard of Honour.

Born in Bagura district in 1936, Dr Mohaiemen started his professional life in 1960 joining the Pakistan Army as a military surgeon.

From 1971-1973, he was one of hundreds of Bengali army officers imprisoned in prison camps in West Pakistan, released only after the 1973 Simla Accord. In recognition of his service in the Liberation War, he received the Joy Padak and Constitution Medal.

Dr Mohaiemen served four years in Libya representing Bangladesh Armed Forces.

At the CMH, he introduced laparoscopic surgery, advanced neurosurgery, endoscopic joint surgery, advanced microscopic methods of ENT surgery, and phaco surgery for cataracts.

After retirement from the army in 1995 as Consultant Surgeon General at Maj Gen rank, Dr Mohaiemen dedicated himself to teaching surgery in different medical colleges like Jahurul Islam Medical College, Bajitpur (1996-2010), and Armed Forces Medical College, Dhaka (2010-2020).

He is survived by wife Nilufer Mohaiemen, and sons Zaed Mohaiemen and Naeem Mohaiemen.