Education adviser Professor Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar said on Friday that the country had to adopt a biotechnology-driven approach to tackle pressing challenges in health, agriculture, and environmental sustainability.
He was addressing the inaugural session of the 6th International Conference on Biotechnology in Health and Agriculture in Dhaka, said a press release.
The two-day conference, organised by the Global Network of Bangladeshi Biotechnologists in collaboration with Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, is being held under the theme 鈥楢ddressing environmental challenges for sustainable health and agriculture鈥�. The event also marks the 20th anniversary of the GNBB鈥檚 global activities.
鈥榃e are standing at the threshold of a biotechnology revolution. Now is the time to seize this opportunity,鈥� Abrar said.
He said that climate change and environmental degradation posed severe threats to health, food security and sustainability, and stressed that biotechnology can offer effective solutions in the health and agriculture sectors.
鈥榃e can鈥檛 envision healthcare without agriculture, nor can we think of food security without environmental sustainability. This interconnection will guide our path forward,鈥� he said.
Citing Bangladesh鈥檚 achievements, the adviser noted that the development of high-yield and resilient rice varieties, local production of COVID-19 test kits, and the use of microbial technology in waste management had already created success stories for the country. 鈥楾hese examples will inspire us to advance further.鈥�
For future plans, he proposed the establishment of a National Biotech Innovation Institute, which would be managed by domestic and expatriate Bangladeshi scientists to bridge academia and industry, create employment, and transform Bangladesh into a biotechnology hub of South Asia.
He also called for the creation of a National Biotech Data Bank, preserving high-quality data ranging from clinical records to plant and animal genome information.
鈥楽cience must be aligned with good governance, innovation with an inclusive approach, and policy with commitment,鈥� said Abrar, adding, 鈥楾his conference is therefore not just a gathering of scientists but a call to action for all stakeholders, including government, academia, industry, and civil society.鈥�
Abdul Auwal Mintu, CEO of Multimedia Group Bangladesh, attended the event as a special guest.
