14/08/2026
Dr. Shariq H. Khan — A Pioneer of Acupuncture in Unani Medicine in Bangladesh
The contribution of Dr. Shariq H. Khan to the academic and institutional development of acupuncture in Bangladesh is undoubtedly significant and worthy of recognition.
Although acupuncture is historically recognized as an important therapeutic modality of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), historical literature of Unani medicine also contains references to therapeutic practices resembling acupuncture and to their potential clinical benefits. Classical Unani scholars, researchers, and physicians documented various forms of therapeutic intervention involving stimulation of specific points on the body and, in some contexts, incorporated such approaches into their clinical practice.
In Bangladesh, an important chapter in the academic development of acupuncture is its incorporation into the academic framework of Unani medicine. Today, acupuncture is taught and studied within the Unani Department of the Government Unani and Ayurvedic Medical College, representing a distinctive development in the institutional history of acupuncture education in the country.
Dr. Shariq H. Khan has played a pioneering role in this development. For nearly two to three decades, he has been involved in teaching and training students in acupuncture within the Unani Department and has continuously worked toward the academic and institutional advancement of this therapeutic discipline in Bangladesh.
His contribution, however, extends far beyond academic teaching. He has consistently worked to promote a proper understanding of acupuncture, including its rationale, distinctive characteristics, therapeutic applications, and appropriate use in different clinical conditions. Through seminars, workshops, public awareness programs, and free medical camps, he has contributed significantly to the dissemination of acupuncture knowledge and its responsible clinical application among healthcare professionals and the general public.
One particularly notable initiative associated with his efforts was the introduction of an overseas acupuncture specialist, Professor Kun, who came to the institution around 2014 and stayed for approximately one year to contribute to acupuncture education and training. During this period, not only students but also a substantial number of teachers of the Government Unani and Ayurvedic Medical College and Hospital received training in acupuncture.
Such initiatives helped create an academic environment in which acupuncture could be studied, practiced, and further developed within the institutional framework of Unani medical education.
Today, many of us who are engaged in acupuncture practice, professional service, teaching, research, and higher education—both in Bangladesh and abroad—are, in one way or another, beneficiaries of the foundation laid through his long-standing efforts.
For his decades of dedication, perseverance, academic contribution, and commitment to the advancement of acupuncture education and practice in Bangladesh, Dr. Shariq H. Khan deserves our sincere respect, appreciation, and gratitude.
Dr. Shariq H. Khan — a pioneer in the academic development and institutional advancement of acupuncture within the Unani medical system of Bangladesh.
His contribution remains an important part of the evolving history of acupuncture education in Bangladesh.
