Feature

Towards promotion of Biotechnology in Bangladesh

Prof. Ahmad S.Islam

Never before has Bangladesh witnessed such a successful conference on biotechnology as the one entitled, “Promotion of Biotechnology in Bangladesh: National and International Perspectives.” While welcoming the recently gazetted biotech policy, members of both the resident and non-resident biotech community expressed their consensus that the whole document needs to be recast in order for it to be internationally recognized.

Conference Preparation: It was an uphill task to arrange the recently concluded 3-day conference on biotechnology. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the organizers, staff and students of Dhaka University, ICDDR, B, and BRAC University, all the sessions commenced on time and almost all the speakers showed up and presented papers in multifaceted disciplines of biotechnology. The venue of the conference was the auditorium of ICDDR, B, providing all facilities including multimedia as well as an uninterrupted power supply, which contributed greatly to the success of the conference.

Objectives: One of the objectives of the conference, apart from recasting the National Biotech Policy, was to take stock of research scientists available within the country and abroad. The organizers admitted that that they had no idea that Bangladesh is so rich in human resources in almost all disciplines of biotech. The majority of speakers had completed their higher degrees in the recent past from well-known laboratories in the West, Australia, India and Japan.

Towards a Conducive Environment for Research: It's now up to the policy makers to create the proper research environment to retain these young talents, by providing them modern equipments, dependable Internet connectivity, and sufficient incentive in addition to a standard salary. There was consensus that these objectives can be realized if a National Commission for Biotechnology, with an independent secretariat and budget under revenue head, is formed by the government, as has been done in Pakistan and India. The biotech community expressed satisfaction that the building that has been recently completed to house the National Institute of Biotechnology at Savar has been designed as per international standard.

Of the NIB on Government Revenue: It was also pointed out that with time, the institute would be less and less dependent on the Government, as the carefully recruited scientists will come up with patents of solutions of many technical problems faced by the industry. It was also suggested that some of the proven technology that no longer have patent protection should be tried in order for NIB to earn extra revenue in its attempt to become self-sufficient. Such programs may include: generation of gas and electricity from city garbage, production of baker's yeast etc.

Inauguration of the Conference and the Distinguished Audience: Mr. Tapan Chowdhury, Adviser for Ministry of Science, Information and Communications Technology, was the Chief Guest at the inauguration. The Guest of honor was Dr. C. S. Karim, Adviser for Agriculture. Others present on the occasion were Dr. David Sack, Executive Director ICDDR, B; Professor M. Shamsher Ali, President, Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury, VC, BRAC University. They placed their important views regarding harnessing this powerful discipline of science for the economic benefit of the country. On behalf of the biotech community, Professor Naiyyum Choudhury and Professor Ahmed A. Azad explained the objectives of the conference and spelled out the direction in which biotech research should be carried out in Bangladesh in order to be internationally competitive and at the same time contribute to the economy of the country. The video message from Major General Dr. Matiur Rahman, the Health Adviser, who could not attend on account of WHO's International Immunization Day, was played at the concluding session. Other distinguished speakers were Mr. S.M. Wahid-uz-Zaman, Secretary, Ministry of Science, Information and Communications Technology; Prof. Yusuf Haider, Pro-VC, D.U., Mr. Mahfuz Anam, Editor, the Daily Star, and Mr. Abdul Awal Mintoo, Chairman, East West Seeds.

Speakers: Invited speakers from Turkey, Pakistan and Malaysia and expatriates from Canada, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and USA captivated the audience. They were Professor Mehmet Ozturk, Chairman, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University, Turkey; Dr. Anwar Nasim, Science Adviser, COMSTECH, Pakistan and Professor Dr. Asma bin Ismail, Medical biotechnologist from the Universiti Sains, Malaysia.

Unique Feature of the Conference: This conference was that this was the first time that the academia, Bangladesh Science Academy, pharmaceutical and seed industry, the government and an international research organization, namely, ICDDR,B, joined hands to organize the conference and supported it morally and financially. About 300 participants registered for the occasion and a few more were to come but could not due to lack of space. Usually, after the inauguration, the guests and the majority of participants leave without listening to the speakers at the subsequent sessions. In that regard, this was unprecedented because all sessions on a variety of biotech disciplines were attended in record numbers, so much so that it was difficult to accommodate latecomers. Due to the large number of papers, there were three concurrent sessions on the third day.

Quality of papers presented at the conference and that of posters: The quality of papers were so good that one foreign national and one expatriate, both of whom are globetrotters attending different international functions, remarked that these presentations were as good as those delivered in science conferences in developed countries. One of the most interesting talks was by the managing director, Incepta Pharmaceuticals, Mr. A. Muktadir. He expressed his will to do the best he could to promote biotech in Bangladesh, and one of the programs he would start is to award fellowships to graduate students for pursuing Ph.D. degree. The poster session was equally interesting and there were 72 posters including one by me on some recently reported genes from DNA library on “Tossa” jute. Two posters presented by Dhaka University, BRRI, ICDDR, B and BAU students earned first, second and third prize.

The Position paper: The position paper prepared by a team of four (Professor Ahmed Azad, Dr. S. M. Faruque, Professor Naiyyum Chaudhury and Professor Ahmad Islam) was presented to the biotech community present in the meeting. The document was recast in the light of their suggestions. Headed by Professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury and comprising Professor Ahmed Azad, Prof. Naiyyum Chowdhury and Prof. Zeba Seraj, the team recently called on Mr. Tapan Chowdhury, the Science and Technology adviser, to submit a modified version of the position paper, reflecting the opinion and recommendations of the biotech community at the conference, including those of non-resident Bangladeshis who communicated their view through electronic media. The Adviser listened to the delegates with a good deal of interest and assured that his Ministry would do its best for implementation of the recommendations. Some of the major recommendations in the position paper are as follows:

· The establishment of the National Commission for Biotechnology (NCBT) with a secretariat headed by a full time Secretary with a science background.

· Minimum three years tenure of the NCBT Secretary in order to ensure an uninterrupted growth of biotech activity.

· Full autonomy of NCBT and freedom to spend from the budgetary allocation.

· NCBT will be run by its own governing body and will be answerable only to the Parliamentary Standing Committee.

· The National Institute of Biotechnology (NIB) will be the research flagship of NCBT with its own budget, governing body and an International Science Advisory Committee (ISAC) to monitor ongoing projects and approve new ones; as well as help the scientists of NIB by giving them direction and guidance.

· The NCBT will support suitable projects both at universities and research organizations through grants. These projects will also be subject to scrutiny by ISAC.

· To scale up some proven technology that are no longer under patent protection for NIB to earn extra revenue in its attempt to become self-sufficient.

· The NCBT will create doctoral and postdoctoral fellowships. Recipient of such fellowships may be given the option to work either at NIB or any other institute of their choice where adequately qualified research guides in the subject of candidate's choice are available.

· At the earliest available opportunity a workshop will be arranged with qualified scientists to decide, in order of priorities, the areas in which research should be initiated and carried out at NIB.

· Should have an official dynamic website, which should be updated regularly. A Newsletter in semi-technical language should be published for the benefit of policyholders and public. GNOBB may be assigned this responsibility with a regular office and provision to be included in the revenue budget.

Our sincere hope is that the caretaker government will give the document due consideration and the implementation of the biotech policy, as suggested by the committee, will take effect before the regime change.