Universities and research

Research is hardly a priority in Bangladeshi universities even, perhaps especially, the public ones. Also there is a glaring lack of appreciation for budding scientists. Appreciation and suitable environment is very important to promote and nurture the scientific mind. Universities should take initiative to build scientists and should provide well-equipped laboratory facilities for students and young teachers to work there. Unfortunately many science and technological graduates being trained in research are employed in bureaucratic posts. Inadequate equipment and access to data also reduces scientific output of researchers, as do the lack of incentives to publish and the absence of quality doctoral programmes.

The government should also extend adequate support to the scientists and researchers. There is a national science policy in place but it will be effective only if it spurs positive change. Usually the government’s high officials’ involvement in science and technology is an inane exercise in mouthing platitudes on certain occasions. Well-focused government initiatives are essential instead of some piecemeal measures now and then.

We believe that there is no shortage of brilliant scientific minds in the country. What is absent is encouragement and proper funding which can ensure an innovative and technologically advanced future for the country.

The only way to make any science policy a success is real political and financial support and unfortunately we doubt whether the authorities are totally committed towards this end. While we continue to see sheer wastage of public money in inconsequential projects, promising scientific endeavours are being forced to abort for lack of funds.

In a country like Bangladesh it is scientific and technological know-how which can determine development. Bangladesh which has insignificant natural resource and an ever burgeoning population on a small piece of land, can be only developed through scientific and technological means. A nation can’t be built through buying technology from outside. There must be development of science and technology inside the country. If science and technology develops, the country will develop eventually.

 

Universities and research

Research is hardly a priority in Bangladeshi universities even, perhaps especially, the public ones. Also there is a glaring lack of appreciation for budding scientists. Appreciation and suitable environment is very important to promote and nurture the scientific mind. Universities should take initiative to build scientists and should provide well-equipped laboratory facilities for students and young teachers to work there. Unfortunately many science and technological graduates being trained in research are employed in bureaucratic posts. Inadequate equipment and access to data also reduces scientific output of researchers, as do the lack of incentives to publish and the absence of quality doctoral programmes. The government should also extend adequate support to the scientists and researchers. There is a national science policy in place but it will be effective only if it spurs positive change. Usually the governments high officials involvement in science and technology is an inane exercise in mouthing platitudes on certain occasions. Well-focused government initiatives are essential instead of some piecemeal measures now and then. We believe that there is no shortage of brilliant scientific minds in the country. What is absent is encouragement and proper funding which can ensure an innovative and technologically advanced future for the country. The only way to make any science policy a success is real political and financial support and unfortunately we doubt whether the authorities are totally committed towards this end. While we continue to see sheer wastage of public money in inconsequential projects, promising scientific endeavours are being forced to abort for lack of funds. In a country like Bangladesh it is scientific and technological know-how which can determine development. Bangladesh which has insignificant natural resource and an ever burgeoning population on a small piece of land, can be only developed through scientific and technological means. A nation cant be built through buying technology from outside. There must be development of science and technology inside the country. If science and technology develops, the country will develop eventually.