Dr. S. K. Roy (Born 1950) is the International Senior Scientist, Chairperson BOT of Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation and Nutrition Foundation of Bangladesh and the author of many publications on the history of science. He is Ph.D. in Nutrition from University of London (1987-1990); FRCP from Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (2008); Diploma on Food, Nutrition, Biotechnology & Poverty (1984 - 1985) and M.Sc. in Human Nutrition (1983-1984) and MBBS (1973) from University of Dhaka.

Dr. Roy has made significant contribution to the advancement of nutrition movement in Bangladesh with special emphasis of the concept that food security is as important as health care to ensure national development. Such concept was advanced with coordination between the Ministry of Agriculture, MO food and MOHFW through development process of nutrition programs and policies, such as Food Policy, Country Investment Plan and Health Policy of Bangladesh. He has played a mediator role in all interdepartmental and ministerial meeting to bring the nutrition security though access to food and health care as well as preventive approaches to health and nutrition. His work for child nutrition has been widely known through developing local complementary foods for children and having sustainable solution. Recent engagement with FAO Bangladesh through development of 35 recipes for complementary feeding in Bangladesh has emerged as a new land mark in history of complementary feeding. He has advocated continuously that Food sector, and FAO has as much as role in complementary feeding and food security of children as UNICEF and WHO for Breastfeeding and child health to ensure optimum nutrition.  As General Secretary of the Nutrition Society of Bangladesh, he had the Honorable Prime Minister as Chief Guest in National Nutrition Conference where the first Nutrition Policy of Bangladesh was agreed.

S. K. Roy had significant role in diagnosis and management of acute and persistent diarrhea in developing countries of the world. He is the first person who discovered the impact of zinc in diarrhea in the world. For his invaluable scientific researches as a moving force at the ICDDRB paving the way in the identification of the benefits of zinc which led to the current global recommendation on zinc supplementation in acute diarrhea that resulted in significant impact on child survival and for his continuing efforts to the improvement of nutritional status of malnourished children, adolescent and mothers. In recognition of his contribution, he received an international award from 13th ASCODD Organizing Committee (2012).  Now the Government of Bangladesh has scaled up up zinc supplementation in the whole country through special program under National Nutrition Services (NNS).

He is an internationally recognized Scientist; his interests are nutrition, ranging from molecular science and public health policy to the history of nutrition. During last four decades, as a distinguished Scientist, Philosopher and activist for advancement of  Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding, Complementary feeding and Maternal Nutrition. He has spearheaded the IYCF movement by involving the Honourable Prime Minister of Bangladesh for inaugurating the WBW for consecutive 3 years 2009 to 2011.  He got approval to 6 months maternity leave in Bangladesh with pay, establishing day care centers, and appointing nutritionists in all hospitals in Bangladesh. IYCF movement in Bangladesh caused ground for getting MDG 4 award by the Prime Minister from WHO.

 Among his two hundreds of publications, many have been translated into global policy and programs  such major papers as Impact of zinc supplementation on intestinal permeability in Bangladeshi children with acute diarrhea and persistent syndrome (J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 1992; 15:289-96), Production of safe therapeutic feeds from contaminated water supplies- (Research letters-The lancet. Vol357. May 19, 2001); Intensive Nutrition Education with or without Supplementary Feeding Improves the Nutritional Status of Moderately malnourished Children in Bangladesh. (J Health Popul Nutr 2005.dec 23(4):320-330); Prevention of malnutrition among young children in rural Bangladesh by a food–health-care educational intervention: A randomized controlled trial; Food and Nutrition Bulletin; January 2008; vol 28 (4); 375-383.

Also he is an eminent member of global policy makers in nutrition movement. He has made concerted efforts on nutrition by involving various relevant Ministries for Breastfeeding and nutrition movement in Bangladesh. He is organizer of many international and national scientific conferences. He has worldwide recognition for his innovative science leading to human benefits and development. His Achievement of policy issues publications implemented nationally and internationally. During the tenure of his services he has been experienced in the following key areas:

"Excess mortality after discharge from diarrhoeal hospital" was the first article showing rehydration is not enough for malnourished children with diarrhoea and there is 14 times higher risk of mortality and was published in British Medical Journal in 1983.This paper was taken up by Ford and Rockefeller foundation and of WHO/CDD programme integrated nutritional management of diarrhoea and a post-diarrhoeal nutrition rehabilitation centre at ICDDRB was stabilized.

Persistent diarrhoea management with local diet and a dietary algorithm of management was published during 1986-90 (Arch Dis Chld, J Trop Ped, JPGN 1991, Br. J Nutr 1994) led formal initiative of WHO to emphasize recognition of this syndrome with high priority followed by a multi-centre research on development of algorithm of low cost local diet. Efforts has improved ICDDR,B care of persistent diarrhoea directly and practices in many countries.

Is nutritional status deteriorating in Bangladesh? -An article published in 1988 in Health Policy and Planning, drew attention of UNICEF and World Bank and Govt. of Bangladesh and triggered to take a remedial measure. The BINP project was thus enhanced with current success. This is the trigger paper for BINP leading to NNP , a major malnutrition intervention program by World Bank and UNICEF in Bangladesh (1995-2002).

Effective means to address moderately malnourished children within BINP communities- This BINP project showed significant improvement of moderately malnourished children whose mothers received intensive nutrition education with or without supplementary feeding in 3 months period. This was the first successful project to reduce moderate malnutrition and results were adapted in BINP.

Study on postpartum vitamin A supplementation to mothers showing increased Breast milk retinol concentration up 6 month postpartum (1989 HKI Book), led later work (R. Stolfuz) and widely practiced. BINP project introduced high potency Vitamin A capsule in postpartum after this Bangladesh data has been available through peer reviewed journal (Eur J Clin Nutr, 1997). This work has been taken up by WHO and translated into policy and programs throughout the world.

He has published work on management of low birth weight babies through exclusive breastfeeding and two studies on nutrition education on home made locally available food reduces low birth weight and improves pregnancy outcomes among urban poor women in Bangladesh which gives an immediate solution of a major public health problem as 36% babies are born as LBW in Bangladesh. 

Dr. S. K. Roy has a passion to reduce maternal malnutrition and reduce low birth weight babies, and such work has been done and published internationally with a tremendous reduction of LBW which needs immediate scaling up in Bangladesh. Many of his research output has been applied nationally and internationally as he is able to communicate and convince the policy make with his interpersonal skills , knowledge, vision and leadership quality.