The experts also said it was impossible to go ahead with the existing biotechnology policy and the way National Institute of Biotechnology (NIB) is formed and run.

The recommendations came at a press conference on the concluding day of the three-day-long conference titled "Promotion of Biotechnology in Bangladesh: National and International Perspectives" which was held at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases and Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR, B) in the capital.

The conference concluded with a call to explore the potentiality of biotechnology efficiently to achieve the challenges of the 21st century. The experts said biotechnology would help bring revolutionary developments in agriculture, industry, healthcare and other sectors.

The Ministry of Science and ICT, Dhaka University, Brac University, Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, ICDDR, B, Incepta and Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd jointly organised the conference.

The conference proposed formation of an independent national commission for biotechnology comprising secretaries from all relevant ministries, eminent biotechnologists and representatives form academic and industrial sector to the government.

Prof Ahmed A Azad, Prof AS Islam, Prof Jamilur Reza Choudhury, Prof Naiyyum Choudhury, Prof Haseena Khan, Dr Firdausi Qadri, Dr Shah M Faruque and Prof Zeba I Seraj spoke at the press conference among others.

The speakers stressed coordination in biotechnological sector and in its research.

Prof Azad, who read out the recommendations, urged the government to form an international scientific advisory committee with expatriate and local experts to review the scientific, technological and innovative activities of NIB to ensure that the institute's scientific activities conform with the international trends and practices in the field of biotechnology.

He also said NIB should cooperate and facilitate research activities in modern biotechnology, which are being carried out in different organisations and should act as a centre for human resource development and technology transfer in this field.

"The existing National Institute of Biotechnology should be an autonomous 'research flagship' of a national commission for biotechnology and play complementary role in the development of biotechnology research in Bangladesh as the national resource and training centre," he said.

The experts viewed that a national commission for biotechnology should be the focal point for coordination and promotion of biotechnology through liaison with relevant government departments, academic and research institutions, the private sector and the funding agencies.

Prof Jamilur Reza Choudhury hoped that the present government would take initiative so that biotechnological research can flourish. He said biotechnology has the potentiality to develop various sectors and, therefore, meet the challenges that we are facing now.

Expressing disappointment over the output in biotechnology sector, Prof Jamilur Reza Choudhury hoped that within the next few years biotechnology would be able to give some output that can be used for the welfare of this nation.

He also said bio-informatics (combination of biotechnology and information technology) could significantly contribute to the development of Bangladesh, if the young professionals in this sector could be properly trained.

Zeba I Seraj said, "Biotechnology is a multidisciplinary subject," adding, "Coordination is necessary to bring success in this field."

"Several significant works have been done in biotechnological sector including tissue culture," she added.

Prof AS Islam said biotechnological research on health, medicine and nutrition should be given preference.

Concluding Day Activities
During the final day of the conference, 37 experts presented their research papers on various sub-sectors of biotechnology.

The papers were on agricultural biotechnology, pharmaceutical biotechnology, waste and salinity management, etc.

Pioneer of biotechnology education in Bangladesh Prof AS Islam presented his "Draft Position Paper" yesterday focusing on the status of biotechnology research in Bangladesh.

Saying that a nation without science is lost, chairperson of the final session of the conference The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam lamented that a thrust on science in general is missing in Bangladesh.