Genetic Engineering- the future of Food and medicine
March 4, 2009
The world population continues to increase at an explosive rate, our arable land is deteriorating, fresh water is becoming scarce and increasing environmental stresses will consistently pose serious threats to global agricultural production and food security in future years. Bioengineering or genetic engineering refers to new methods of plant breeding that permit scientists to improve food crops by introducing a copy of a gene for a specific trait (e.g., fruit softening). Read more
Ekushey Book Fair ends with record sale
March 1, 2009
The month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair ended on Saturday with a record sale of books worth around Tk 20 crores. According to the Bangla Aca-demy Information Centre, the Academy earned some Tk 62 lakh by selling different kinds of books, mostly dictionaries, from this year’s fair. The number of new titles also hit a new record with 2741 books this year. Last year, covers of some 2578 new books were unveiled in the fair while only 1919 new titles hit the fair in 2007. Read more
UK to introduce points-based system for student visa
February 25, 2009
The UK Border Agency of the British high commission, Dhaka arranged a seminar on ‘UK student visa’ at Zia Hall in the city on Tuesday to inform people of new points-based system about student visa applications. The seminar was held ahead of the introduction of a new PBS for student visa applications which will be implemented from the end of March. The Khulna mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque, deputy commissioner NM Zeaul Alam, Read more
Australian education exhibition from Feb 25
February 23, 2009
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University of California, Los Angeles
February 17, 2009
THE University of California, Los Angeles (generally known as UCLA) is one of the best public research universities in USA and the fact that I receives an annual endowment of over $ 2.3 billion shows the amount of research that is happening around the place. As the name would suggest, the university is located in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1919 and the name was changed in 1927 to the University of California at Los Angeles. Read more
Is BioTechnology Going the Right Direction
February 2, 2009
Biotechnology is no longer an abstruse issue in our country. In the last few years, a lot of discussions have been carried out covering different grounds of biotechnology and how many people including the top government bodies are becoming more aware of it. What really lacks here is a comprehensive policy to address all the issues and practice regarding Biotechnology. It must be conceived in every level that Biotechnology is not like any altruistic science; rather it involves lots of money in terms of both investment and revenues. So Biotechnology requires a very practical viewpoint if really the opportunities and promises from this area are needed to be exploited.
In the last few years there was little if any advancement in the integrated plan of action for biotechnology, let alone practical application. However, many countries including India have achieved many milestones during this period. So, it’s already too late to take a bigger step regarding Biotech policy but still there are avenues to be explored within shortest possible time to get maximum benefit in near future. And for this, we need a very compact, realistic and compassionate program to establish biotechnology as a tool to solve many of our problems. What is noteworthy in this regard is that the new government has special commitment in their election manifesto to use genetic engineering and biotechnology in agriculture, fishery and vegetable farming.
It’s regrettable that there are not enough voices to speak about biotechnology or recombinant DNA technology in our country. Even the anti-biotech campaign is stronger than the pro-Biotech campaign and most of the people who are dealing with this issue in the media are not putting in the correct facts. Myths and propaganda are mostly publicized widely while the facts are less spoken or not underscored enough.
However, there have been some national and international events that took place in Bangladesh at that time to present the facts and status of Biotechnology in the world and its Bangladesh perspectives. The most recent of these events is an International Symposium on Regulatory and Safety Issues in Commercialization of Biotechnology Research in Developing Countries jointly organized by BRAC University and ICGEB at the RDEC Bhavan, LGED Complex, Agargaon, Dhaka on 2-4 December 2008. The symposium was aimed to provide relevant information and to educate practicing biotechnologists and other professionals in Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), patents, biosafety, bioethics, etc. Over three hundred scientists, members of the civil society, business community and the news media were present in the inaugural ceremony. Eighteen delegates from different countries including USA, Canada, Cuba, South Africa, Australia, Sweden, Canada, India, Malaysia and Nepal participated in the symposium and presented papers on different themes including technology transfer, biosafety, bioethics, IP and IPR. Twenty scientists from different organizations of the country also presented papers on different themes.
Recently, an international symposium called youngBB (young Biotechnologists of Bangladesh) and GNOBB (Global Network of Bangladeshi Biotechnologists) jointly organized a round table conference at the National Press Club with Mr. Shaikh Siraj (Director Channel-i) being the moderator where experts from agriculture, industry, and medical sector joined to discuss the potentials and prospects of Biotechnology in Bangladesh. The conference came up with some important recommendations like-
1. Setting up of an independent national commission on Biotechnology, whose role will be to identify research and commercial areas relevant to our national needs and identify existing and required manpower strengths in this area. The commission will also prioritize as well as identify research networks within the country and establish international links. It will also procure funding for research.
2. To make the National Institute of Biotechnology and autonomic body. In this case NIB will be the research wing of the National Commission on Biotechnology.
3. To empower NIB to coordinate all Biotechnology activities in the country.
4. Develop public private partnership between entrepreneurs and research scientists in order to commercialize biotechnology products.
5. Development of the infrastructure of existing Biotechnology departments in Universities.
Source: The Daily Star
Ekushey Book Fair-2009 begins today
February 1, 2009
The month-long Amar Ekushey Grantha Mela-2008 (Book Fair) begins at the premises of Bangla Academy today (Sunday) commemorating the martyrs of the historic Language Movement. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the fair at 3 pm. The authorities have taken all necessary steps to make the inauguration ceremony a success. Besides, stall owners are also well prepared for the month-long event.
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New policy in offing for practical knowledge based studies
January 31, 2009
Awami League led government is set to adopt a new education policy to transform students into a technical based efficient and economically knowledgeable workforce. As part of “vision 2021″ and “charter for change” as enumerated in its poll manifesto, the government has recorded statements of renowned academicians setting forth substances of their recommendations to change current education system which remains stereotyped for long.
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Education programme for street children
January 29, 2009
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Bank Asia higher studies scholarship
January 22, 2009
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