A festival of engineers

The recently concluded three-day convention, sixth in all in Chittagong since the independence, had evoked exuberant enthusiasm among the members of Institution of Engineers Bangladesh (IEB) across the country.

The convention venue -- IEB Chittagong centre -- had virtually turned into a festive place where more than 2500 engineers from home and abroad gathered, met each other, exchanged pleasantries and views on different issues. It was like a big reunion of engineers. Delegates and dignitaries from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal truly added extra grace to this three-day august occasion.

The convention from 5th to 7th of January was marked with the formal inauguration by none other than the Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, six memorial lectures in respect of some deceased but wellknown engineering personalities who had also been the former members of IEB and a day-long seminar featuring some 12 papers on several important issues.

Nurul Karim, honorary secretary of IEB Chittagong centre, was found charged with emotion to some extent while talking to The Daily Star about the convention. "The convention held in Chittagong after 8 long years has generated great deal of festivity and aspirations among the engineering community. It also gave us tremendous opportunity to place our position, problems and desire before the prime minister and her government and at the same time draw her attention to our expectations."

The IEB secretary said, "The six memorial lectures graced with the participation of delegates from home and abroad had obviously matched to the international standard and it reap great amount of knowledge about global scenario for our member engineers."

Opening and closing ceremony: Prime Minister Khaleda Zia inaugurated the convention at a colourful function on the IEB Chittagong centre premises in the morning on January 5. In her speech she urged the engineers to help build a better and prosperous Bangladesh.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Advocate Abdul Hamid attended the closing ceremony of the convention as chief guest instead of Leader of the Oppostion in Parliament Sheikh Hasina. He, however, read out a written statement of Sheikh Hasina who could not be present at the convention due to fever.

Memorial lectures: One of the features of this year's convention was the arrangement of six memorial lectures initiated as a mark of honour and respect to some late and distinguished engineers of the country.

On January 4, the day before the convention began, Engineer Quamruzzaman memorial lecture was held while on the first day of the convention (January 5) four lectures were organised. These were: Engineer MA Jabbar memorial lecture, Engineer Md Shahjahan memorial lecture, Engineer Dr. MA Rashid memorial lecture and Shaheed (martyred) Engineers memorial lecture. Dr. Engineer FR Khan memorial lecture was held on the second day (January 6).

Water Resources Minister LK Siddiqui was present as chief guest and Prof Dr. M Anwarul Azim the key speaker at the Jabbar memorial lecture. President of World Federation of Engineers' Organisation (WFEO) Prof Jose Medem Sanjuan chaired this lecture titled 'The Route to Global Engineer.' IEB president Quamrul Islam Siddique, honorary secretary Md Nurul Huda and Engr. Md Monwar Hossain also spoke in the lecture.

The topic of Md Shahjahan memorial lecture was 'Globalisation of higher education: Bangladesh perspective.' Presided over by M Anwarul Azim, the lecture was attended, among others, by Minister for Forests and Environment Shahjahan Siraj as chief guest and Engr. Syed Muzaffar Ali from Pakistan as special guest. Prof Dr. M Anwar Hossain, Vice-chancellor of Islamic University of Technology (IUT), spoke at the lecture as the main speaker.

Food Minister Abdullah Al Noman was present as chief guest and Prof Dr. Iqbal Mahmud key speaker at the MA Rashid memorial lecture. IUT Vice Chancellor Prof M Anwar Hossain presided this lecture styled 'Code of ethics and professional conduct for engineers: Some inter-country comparisons.' President of Engineers Institution of Sri Lanka Dr. Ratnayeke also spoke at the lecture.

The topic of Dr. FR Khan memorial lecture was 'Earthquake and the imminent disaster.' Noted engineer, BRAC University Vice-chancellor Prof Dr. Jamilur Reza Chowdhury chaired the lecture that was attended, among others, by Dr. Iqbal Mahmud as chief guest and Prof M Azadur Rahman the key speaker.

Seminar: A national seminar on "Globalisation a Challenge for the Developing Countries: Bangladesh Perspective" was held on the closing day. The main idea for selecting this theme was to bring this burning issue before the engineering community, increase the awareness thereby to develop the professional attitude and academic qualification to face the challenge of globalisation that is now knocking at the door.

After discussion at length on various topics, the participants made some recommendations. The recommendations are:

1) Globalisation is putting construction industries of developing countries like Bangladesh in severe competition and pressure. Hence a balanced development of industry together with an efficient technology transfer is essential. More professional approaches from all quarters are essential for building a sustainable construction industry.

2) During the present era of globalisation, the Bangladesh economy has been liberalised and opened for foreign direct investment. Though it was done to reap benefits of physical capital formation, technology transfer higher competition efficiency, there are risks along with rising debt service payments especially in the energy sector. To this end, the interest of people of this generation and future ones of Bangladesh should be protected. People need to maximise every unit of gas resources and link it to develop other productive areas. At the same time, earnest efforts should be made to develop and use coal resources particularly for the production of power and to reserve and conserve gas as much as possible.

3) Reform is a continuous process while the power sector is a capital intensive one. Hence, the reform agenda should be based on the country needs and recognise the economic reality of the country. The domestic views should be merged and consolidated with views of the development partners.

4) Water sector in Bangladesh should be taken care with judgement to ensure access to local poor people. To resolve the conflict on international rivers, all the countries that share the water sheds should have an integral plan for the best possible utilisation of water resources. Efforts are needed to increase trust among co riparian countries and sign agreements on the basis of rational analysis of scare resources with due recognition to the interest of the downstream countries sharing the water shed.

5) Already in some areas of Bangladesh, ground water mining has been observed. To overcome the situation, crop diversification is essential for better water management and to achieve better irrigation efficiency.

6) The strategies for improving literacy, learning opportunities and infrastructure should be explored to take the best possible advantage of information revolution and the great wave of technology.

7) The increase of the use of less polluting and environment friendly modes of transport together with efficient traffic management system is essential for a sustainable transport sector.

8) Innovative technology, government commitment, considerable resources, trained local personnel are essential for achieving a sustainable and effective road safety programmes.

9) Formal leadership education is essential to have better understanding of leadership situations. New critical decisions and values, innovative ideas and appropriate imperatives concerning proper scope of organisational techno-economic activities are urgently needed.