DHAKA: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University is one of the leading higher educations and research based agricultural university in Bangladesh. Department of Biotechnology of this university is play a vital rule in advance research at molecular level.
Recently 2-day international colloquium on ‘Recent advances in curriculum and research in Biotechnology’ was jointly organized by Department of Biotechnology, BSMRAU, under the Higher Education and Quality Enhancement Project (HEQEP CP#2071), funded by World Bank and School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (UNMC) in auditorium of BSMRAU. The program was inaugurated by the Vice-chancellor of BSMRAU, Prof. Dr. Mahbubar Rahman.
In inaugural speech, he express that in near future department of biotechnology is the rule model of biotechnology education and BSMRAU might be the centre of excellence of biotechnology education. He also added that in very short time department of biotechnology turn into Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (IBGE) as like Institute of Business Administration, Dhaka University.
In his visionary speech, he also said that Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering helps to provide high quality graduates and researchers in biotechnology. This institute also helps to overcome the challenges of 21th century and introduce Bangladesh as a developed country to the world.
Dr. Mahbubar Rahman, VC of BSMRAU also said that the proposal of Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering(IBGE) has already been approved by the academic council of BSMRAU and hoped that this institute come in true in very short time. He also added that if the project completed successfully than this institute might be the centre of excellence in biotechnology and plays a very important rule to overcome challenges of 21th century without any doubt.
Treasurer of BSMRAU, Dr. Ismail Hossain Mian, special guest of the program also added that- the recent progress of Department of Biotechnology proved that they will provide the future leader of biotechnology. He also said that, the memorandum of understanding with Nottingham University will also helps to introduce a new era in agriculture.
The special guest, Chin Chiew Foan from University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus was highly appreciates the progress of research work of biotechnology department. He also very happy to work with this department and hope both universities will work together in future for high quality research and education.
The chair of this session was Prof. Dr. Tofazzal Islam and in this inaugural ceremony Dr. Md. Mahbubur Rahman and Dr. Md. Ashraful Haque was also deliver their valuable speech. Professors of different departments, Dean of different faculties, head of departments of BSMRAU was present in the inaugural ceremony.
Probiotics and prebiotics increase the growth of fish
In first day technical session, 4 researchers showed their high valued research work on biotechnology and genetic engineering. Lim Yin Sze, associate professor of School of biosciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus expressed the potentiality of probiotics and prebiotics in fish culture of riverine Bangladesh. From her research experience she claimed that in prawn culture especially in coastal zone, probiotics and prebiotics will increase the growth and development of prawn. This will applied through oral vaccine. She also hoped that, in Bangladesh there were huge potentiality in research in fish and applied it in field level and brings revolution in fish culture.
Professor Sandy Hwei San Loh from Nottingham University showed efficient Agrobacterium based transient expression system for plant made biopharmaceuticals production. Associate professor, Dr. Shafi M. Tareq from the same university discuss on biosensor to identify harmful pathogen of ground water.
Prof. Dr. Tofazzal Islam delivered important speech on biofunctional bacteria and their potentials on crop production. From his research experiences, he claimed those biofunctional bacteria as a Biogold. Each and every year huge chemical fertilizers are applied into the crop field like rice wheat. These chemical inputs are harmful for our soil as well as environment.
In his guiden’s one of his student Musrat Zahan Surovy found that by applying these biofunctional bacteria in rice, use of recommended doses of N, P and K fertilizers will reduce ca. 50% and increase rice production 40%. Dr. Islam hoped, this technology will helps increasing the rice production in field level and helps farmers economically. He also believed that this biogold will bring second green revolution.
Prof. Dr. Rashed Hossain from Bangladesh Agricultural University, associate professor Dr. Rezaul Karim from JahangirNagar University and hundreds of students and emerging researchers of biotechnology attend the international colloquium.
BDST: 1429 HRS, AUG 23, 2015
AKA
