Qudrat began his career as a lecturer in chemistry at Presidency College in 1931 and was promoted to head of the department in 1936. From 1942 to 1944, he served as the principal of Islamia College in Calcutta. He returned to Presidency College in 1946, becoming the principal of the college for a brief period in 1947. At the same time, he was a fellow and a member of the senate of Calcutta University. After the partition of India, he came to East Bengal in 1947 and served as the first director of Public Instruction of the Government of East Pakistan from 1947 to 1949. In 1949, he was appointed scientific adviser to the Ministry of Defence of the Government of Pakistan. He became the chairman of the Secondary Education Board and served from 1952 to 1955 while serving as faculty member at the Karachi University. He was appointed the first director of the East Regional Laboratories of the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research in 1955 and established the laboratories in Dhaka. After retirement from directorship in 1966, he was appointed chairman of the 'Kendriya Bangla Unnayan Board'. Qudrat was appointed a visiting professor of chemistry at University of Dhaka in 1975 and served until his death on 3 November 1977.
Contribution
Qudrat's field of specialisation was organic chemistry. He conducted research on herbals, jute, salt, charcoal, soil and minerals. He successfully extracted biochemical elements from local trees and plants for medicinal use. Qudrat and his associates patented 18 scientific inventions. Manufacturing of Partex from jute-stick was his greatest scientific achievement. Manufacturing malt vinegar from the juice of sugarcane and molasses, Rayon from jute and jute-sticks, and paper from jute were his other significant scientific innovations. Qudrat played an important role in popularising Bengali for scientific practices. As such, he wrote a number of books on science and technology in Bengali including Bigganer Sarash Kahini, Bigganer Bichitra Kahini, Bigganer Suchana, Jaiba Rasayan in four volumes, Purba Pakistaner Shilpa Sambhabana, Paramanu Parichiti and Bigganer Pahela Katha. Two Bengali science magazines Purogami Biggan and 'Bigganer Joyjatra' were published under his auspices. He also wrote some religious books including Pabitra Quraner Puti Kotha O Angari Jaoyara.
