No promotion in 17 years

Scientists at Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute (BWMRI) in Dinajpur have not got any promotion in the last 17 years although they have been playing a significate role to take advance the wheat farming in the country since long.

Such inaction by the authority has disappointed the scientists. As a result, they do not find any spirit of work.

"It's so unexpected that the scientists, who are playing key role to take advance the wheat and maize cultivation in the country, are being financially deprived", said a scientist.

At present, annual wheat production is around 12.5 lakh tonnes.

The official said Wheat Research Centre (WRC) was founded in Nashipur village of Dinajpur Sadar upazila in 1984. Since then, its scientists have been developing various wheat varieties, which was prevalent among the farmers. WRC has been transformed into Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute (BWMRI) in 2017.  

The verities  include 'BARI Gom 19' ('Sourav') and 'BARI Gom 20' ('Gourab') released in 1998; 'BARI Gom 21' ('Shatabdi') in 2000; 'BARI Gom 22' ('Sufi'), 'BARI Gom 23' ('Bijoy') and 'BARI Gom 24' ('Prodip') in 2005 (Pandit et al.,2011); and 'BARI Gom 25' and 'BARI Gom 26' in 2010 (BARI, 2012b). In 2012, two varieties, 'BARI Gom 27' and 'BARI Gom 28', were released.  Last month, BWMRI developed two more blast tolerant varieties.

There are 20 scientists in the institution.

Sheikh Hasina-led government had taken an initiative to transform the WRC to a full-fledged researching institution of wheat and maize when Awami League came to power in 1996. But, it could not be done as BNP came to power in 2001.

Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (Bari) was the parent organisation of WRC under the agriculture ministry. In 2003, Bari appointed at least 20 scientists to different posts including Scientific Officer (SO), Senior Scientific Officer (SSC) and Principal Scientific Officer (PSO).

Bari was supposed to deal with the promotion of the recruited scientists in consultation with the ministry. But, it failed to give promotion of the scientists due to non-cooperation from the ministry.

"Promotion gives a person spirit of work but we never get such spirit since we have been recruited in 2003", said a scientist.

Many went on retirement at different times, said the official.

There are different departments at BWMRI including wheat and maize breeding department, soil science department, agronomical department and Agri-Engineering department.

Wishing anonymity, the official said there are sufficient posts of scientists to get promotion but it is not happening. As a result, they are losing interest to give their best performance at the workplace.

He has urged the government to resolve the problem as soon as possible.

Israel Hossain, director general of BWMRI in Dinajpur, said no scientist was promoted due to various reasons in the last 17 years but, the problem will no longer exist as the ministry concerned is trying to resolve the problem.