M. Anwar Hossain is a Bangladeshi plant scientist and writer. He is a Professor at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in University of Dhaka and President of the Bangladesh Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He is known for his research on photosynthesis and the development of the flood-tolerant rice variety and is considered as one of the pioneers of biotechnology and genetic engineering in Bangladesh. Hossain was the founding Project Director[3](2000-2001) of the Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Dhaka and is the former vice-chancellor of Jahangirnagar University.  From 1991-1994 and 1995-1996 he worked in Purdue University, USA and Kyoto University, Japan respectively as visiting scientist (Full-time professor) during which he worked for developing submergence (flood) tolerant rice. This research was the frontier step in biological field  

 He has a patent in USA on discovery of Anoxia inducible promoter isolated from rice for its potential use in Cancer research in 2001. His current research involves group of Scientists, Research Fellows, Ph.D., M.Phil. and Masters course students from University of Dhaka, Bangabandhu Sk. Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University and Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI). A project entitled “Genetic Engineering of Rice to Develop Flooding Tolerant High-Yielding Cultivars” financed by the Rockefeller Foundation under the International Rice Biotechnology Program and Ministry of Science and Technology (S&T), GOB, is being conducted by Hossain. He is also leading research on bioremediation.