Biotechnology needed to reduce harmful chemical use AFOB symposium told

The application of biotechnology in the industrial sector can reduce harmful use of chemicals in Bangladesh, said speakers at an international symposium in the capital yesterday.

Biotechnology is environmentally-friendly as its products are biodegradable and Asian countries including Bangladesh can be benefited from it, they added.

The Asian Federation of Biotechnology (AFOB), Bangladesh Region, organised the 10th AFOB Regional Symposium-2018 in association with the Department of Microbiology of Dhaka University (DU) at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building of DU.

A total of 60 researchers and professors from 11 Asian countries will present their research papers in different sessions during the symposium.  

Biotechnology is technology based on biology to harnesses cellular and bio-molecular processes to develop technologies and products that help improve our lives.

This natural process has applications in areas like medicine, health, agriculture and industries. Bangladesh has raw materials of biotechnology such as waste which is considered as renewable energy, the speakers said.

Using the renewable energy, the country can produce different products such as medicine, food and fertiliser instead of importing them from abroad, they said.    

AFOB (Bangladesh Region) Vice President Dr M Mozammel Hoq said, “Usually leather industries use chemical technology which has harmful elements. But application of biotechnology can reduce the chemical use.”  

“Around 95 percent of bacteria are not harmful. But it is important to know its use in different sectors and it is only possible through biotechnology,” he said.

Bangladesh has successfully used biotechnology in the agriculture sector and produced hybrid crops in vast amount using small space, and now its application must be spread to different areas such as industrial sector, said Mozammel, also a microbiology professor.  

AFOB (central office) Secretary General Yoo-Mo Koo said, “Biotechnology deals with the materials that come from nature and its products are not harmful for human beings.”

“Since its products are biodegradable they can easily be assimilated into nature without causing any harm to the environment,” he said.

DU VC Prof Akhtaruzzaman said more research on biotechnology will help understand its value.