Mohammad Shamsher Ali, a distinguished physicist of Bangladesh, passed away on 2 August 2025. Elected to TWAS in 1989, during his career he made seminal contributions to research, and science communication.

He was an executive member for Central and South Asia of the TWAS Council (2019–2022), and served in influential positions, including: president of the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences (2004–2012), founder vice-chancellor of Bangladesh Open University (1992–1996), and founder vice-chancellor of Southeast University, Dhaka (2002–2010).
His research achievements are recognized worldwide. The Ali-Bodmer alpha-alpha potential, a theoretical model in nuclear physics describing the interaction between two alpha particles in a nuclear system, was named after him and nuclear physicist Bodmer. The model has been influential in nucleosynthesis in supernovae, and astrophysics research since 1966.
Shamsher Ali held academic tenure as professor of physics at the University of Dhaka (1982–2006) where served as life-long honorary professor, and professor emeritus at Southeast University. He was in the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (1961–1982) and was the director of the Atomic Energy Centre, Dhaka (1970–1978).
His awards include the Hari Prasanna Roy Gold Medal from Dhaka University, Bangladesh Academy of Sciences Senior Gold Medal, Khan Bahadur Ahsanullah Gold Medal, and the TWNSO and ROCASA Award for communicating science to the public.