Professor emeritus Abul Bashar Mosarraf Hossain of the department of Islamic History and Culture in Rajshahi University, died at a hospital in the capital early Saturday.

He was 86.

ABM Hossain, an internationally acclaimed historian, breathed his last at Bangladesh Specialised Hospital at around 2:00am while undergoing treatment.

He was the first professor emeritus of Rajshahi University, where he served for 60 years.

Prof ABM Hossain had a hold on every sector of history, but he was famous as an expert on middle eastern history.

Prof Hossain authored 11 books including Arab Sthapottya, Muslim Shilpakolar Etihas and Moddhyaprachher Eithas, the dean said.

The Norwegian parliament had selected him as a member of the Nobel Peace Prize awarding body of The Norwegian Nobel Committee in 1977.

Prof ABM Hossain was also a member of the committee that drafted the Rajshahi University Act of 1973.