BRAC University, Ministry of Science and ICT, University of Dhaka, ICDDR,B, Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Incepta Pharmaceuticals and Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd jointly organized a three-day long International Conference on "Promotion of Biotechnology in Bangladesh: National and International Perspectives" at the ICDDR,B Auditorium, on April 6-8, Dhaka. Mr. Tapan Choudhury, Honourable Advisor, MOSICT was the Chief Guest in the Inaugural Ceremony and Dr. C.S. Karim, Honourable Advisor for the Agriculture Ministry was the special guest. Conference Chair, Professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury explained the objectives of the Workshop in the Inaugural Ceremony and Professor Naiyyum Choudhury presented a paper on the "Current Status and Prospects of Biotechnology in Bangladesh." Professor M. Shamsher Ali. President, Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Professor Yusuf Haider, Pro-Vice Chancellor, University of Dhaka; Dr. David A. Sack, Director, ICDDR,B also spoke in the inaugural ceremony.
Over three hundred and fifty participants from home and abroad participated in the Conference. Some distinguished foreign scientists from Turkey, Pakistan, Malaysia and a number of expatriate scientists from Canada, USA, Australia also actively participated in the Conference. The foreign scientists included Professor Mehmet Ozturk, Chairman, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University, Turkey; Dr. Anwar Nasim, Science Adviser, COMSTECH, Pakistan and Dr. Asma Binte Ismail of Medical Biotechnology at Universiti Sains Malaysia. TWAS Research Professor of BRAC University, Dr. Ahmed Abdullah Azad, Professor Naiyyum Choudhury, Professor A.S. Islam and Dr. Shah M. Faruque jointly prepared a position paper on "National Biotechnology Policy and the National Institute of Biotechnology" and circulated the paper to all the participants of the Conference. Incorporating the comments of the biotech community both from home and abroad, the position paper on "National Biotechnology Policy" was modified and presented to elicit the opinion of the participants. The finalized version along with the recommendations of the Conference will be presented to the Government of Bangladesh for necessary action.