'Carry out research forhealth, environment'

President Iajuddin Ahmed yesterday called upon the scientists to carryout research on chemistry and chemical science to ensure better environment and health.

Terming environment and health as most important issues of the present day world, he stressed on proper research on chemical science to innovate new devices and medicines to combat ever increasing challenges and threats to health-safety and environment protection.

The president was inaugurating the Silver Jubilee Conference of Bangladesh Chemistry Society at the auditorium of Jahangirnagar University.

Presided over by president of the Society Prof. Md. Moshihuzzaman, the inaugural function was also addressed by Environment and Forest Minister Shahjahan Siraj, State Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources A K M Mosharraf Hossain, JU Vice Chancellor Prof. Jashimuddin Ahmed, General Secretary of the Society Dr. Akhteruddin Ahmed and Chairman of the Silver Jubilee Organising Committee Prof. Mesbahuddin Ahmed.

The president said "No nation could develop and prosper without flourishing science and technology" adding that chemistry as basic science is linked indispensably with all kinds of scientific innovations and achievements.

He pointed out that because of continuous research for thousands of years, the chemical science helped innovate a number of life saving drugs including sulfa-drugs, antibiotics, medicines for high blood pressure, hormone deficiency, gastric and pain killers.

Resides, to cope with the food shortage owing to population boom worldwide, the chemical science has been playing a significant role in enhancing food production through innovating insecticides, fertilisers and other agro-inputs, he added.

The president said chemical science also plays an important role for industrial production of soap, detergent, sugar, paper, pharmaceuticals, plastics and goods from hide and skin.

President Iajuddin said in the modern life style, environment is inter-linked with health as sound health will prevail if the environment is good.

He said as an agrarian country having world's highest density of population, Bangladesh's environment is at stake owing to surrounding conditions.

The president hoped that the scientists would be able to innovate sustainable technology to halt air and water pollution to ensure better healthcare for the people.

The president called upon the scientists to carryout extensive research pursuits to extract precious medicines from herbal trees to enrich our stock of medicines and pharmaceutical industries.

He assured that the present government would extend all-out cooperation and assistance to any such initiatives for greater public interest.

The president expressed the hope that valuable suggestions would come out from the deliberations of the conference which is being participated by a large number of chemists and chemical scientists from 15 countries including the host Bangladesh.