Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), popularly known as Science Laboratory, is a familiar sight at the corner of New Elephant Road in the capital. The multidisciplinary scientific research organisation, which also works as a regulatory body, was established in 1973 with the slogan ‘Science for Life’. The institution has been playing an important role in the research sector of our country, achieving many targets of Sustainable Development Goals and other national policies, particularly those related to science and technology. The Weekend Independent recently talked to scientists, researchers and officials of the top national research organisation to find out more about its innovative products and technologies developed over the past 45 years, as well as future research plans.
There are 11 research institutes of BCSIR, said Faruque Ahmed, chairman of BCSIR. The institutes are BCSIR Laboratories, Dhaka; Designated Reference Institute for Chemical Measurement (DRiCM); Institute of National Analytical Research and Service (INARS); Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST); Institute of Fuel Research and Development (IFRD); Pilot Plant and Process Development Centre (PPPDC); Institute of Glass and Ceramic Research and Testing (IGCRT); BCSIR Laboratories, Chittagong; BCSIR Laboratories, Rajshahi; Leather Research Institute (LRI), Savar; Institute of Mining, Mineralogy and Metallurgy (IMMM), Joypurhat.
BCSIR Laboratories, Dhaka is the largest research and development (R&D) institute of BCSIR that provides the best service for industrialisation in our country. About its functions and activities, Mohammad Sarwar Jahan, director of BCSIR Laboratories, said: “The laboratory conducts both basic and applied research to foster scientific and industrial development through innovation. We have 65 scientists. Besides research and development work, we conduct regular training programmes for developing skills of our scientists.”
The scientists at the BCSIR labs are doing their best to improve the quality of industrial products. “We have seven research divisions, including biological, fibre and polymer, pulp and paper, chemical, industrial physics, physical instrumentation and pharmaceutical sciences,” said Sarwar Jahan, who is also a senior scientific officer. “We always work to maintain the reputation of our laboratories.”
Aminul Ahsan, a scientist and director of Institute of National Analytical Research and Service (INARS) of BCSIR, said: “Mainly, we do analyses on waste, drinking and mineral water. Besides that, we have invented different types of medicines. We also do research on different types of samples that come from outside.
The director said INARS is now working on removing chromium from water of the Buriganga River, which is polluted by the waste waters of Hazaribagh leather factory: “We have taken up a project for removing chromium from polluted water. We also work on arsenic and different metal removal technology.”
“We maintain global standard in our laboratories. Our scientists are conscious and skilled enough to control the quality of their work. Thus, we have received ‘Certification of Accreditation’ from Bangladesh Accreditation Board this year. We always work for the betterment of the research sector of our country,” Ahsan said. “For maintaining the global standard, continuous training is a must. So, I have taken training in Canada on how to maintain the requirements of International Standard Organisation (ISO). So, we can now do any analysis confidently.”
Ahsan said they also provide training to other scientists of INARS for improving their skills: “We have a regular in-house training programme. We also write standard operating procedure (SOP) on our research topics, so new researchers can get some idea while starting work on it. Besides, we also work on R&D projects.”
Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) is the largest national R&D unit of BCSIR. The research institute has seven divisions and 16 sections. About its research activities, Zahurul Haque, director of IFST, said: “We provide technical assistance, as well as analytical and testing services to the food sector in our country. We also help the fish export sector by extending testing and analytical support to seafood industries. We also detect different chemicals in food items sold to consumers. Besides, we investigate the quality of different fruits and vegetables. We are working to develop an easy method for detecting food adulteration,” Haque added.
IFST has different types of modern equipment, including amino acid analyzer, tissue processor, tissue embedding centre, tissue floating bath, ion exchange chromatography, auto protein analyzer and others, to improve its services and research activities. The institute has produced some innovative products in recent years. “Our important products are formalin detection solution for milk, iodine testing solution, formalin detection kit for fish, diabetic foods, fruit and vegetable wash concentrate and vegetable ghee,” the director said.
IFST works jointly with Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC): “We provide training for BSCIC officials, especially those who are involved with salt testing (for iodine) and other food related projects. Lab experts of salt factories also come to us for taking training,” Haque said. “We support entrepreneurs by providing quality assurance for their food samples. We also supervise research students, particularly MSc, MPhil and PhD candidates, from different universities.”
Tanzir Ahmed Khan is a senior scientific officer of IFST who works on developing new products. “We have two types of services _ R&D and analytical. For R&D, we are working on producing antioxidants from natural products, including onions, ginger, garlic and others produce. We are also researching, for the first time in our country, how to increase the shelf life of processed foods,” Khan said regarding IFST’s recent research work.
“For analytical research, we provide services as needed. People from different industries come to us for testing the quality of their food products. Mainly, exporters and importers come to us for that,” Khan added.
Fibre and Polymer Research Division (FPRD) has seven sections for doing research on products like cellulosic fibre, plastic, rubber, dyes and pigment, resin, paint-varnish-lacquer, and fibre and polymer testing. Swapan Kumer Ray, a senior scientific officer of FPRD, said: “We have renovated our lab under an ADP (annual development programme) project, titled ‘Development of Fibre and Polymer Laboratory of BCSIR’, for conducting R&D work.”
“In our country, textiles, jute and plastics are the most important sectors contributing to our GDP (gross domestic product). Foreign buyers, especially those from EU countries, insist on testing certificates of international standard to determine whether banned and carcinogenic chemicals are present in the products exported. Therefore, Bangladeshi exporters are compelled to get the required analyses done in laboratories that maintain global standard,” Ray added.
In addition to establishing test facilities of international standard in the relevant sectors, FPRD is mandated to undertake R&D initiatives as well. According to Ray, these initiatives are facilitated under the government’s ADP funding. The most advanced and fully functional FPRD has been developed recently, and it is awaiting accreditation as per ISO-17025 standard.
“We reveal our research work in our annual report every year,” BCSIR chairman Faruque Ahmed said. “Our scientists are well qualified and working hard to continue the success of this organisation,” he added.
There is an innovation gallery on the BCSIR premises where more than 200 innovative products and technologies invented or developed by BCSIR are displayed. Some of the latest inventions include a solar farm hat, arsenic removal filter, polymer modified bitumen, formalin detector, natural preservative, solar oven, and spirulina.
Solar farmer’s hat: A modified version of the straw-and-bamboo conical hat, called mathal, used by Bangladeshi farmers for shade from the scorching sun. The new solar hat is fitted with rechargeable solar strips and it provides cooling air when working in the field and light at night.
Arsenic removal filter: Arsenic-contaminated groundwater, which is a public health concern in many parts of Bangladesh, cannot be purified by boiling. So, the scientists of BCSIR have invented a special type of filter which removes arsenic and purifies the water.
Polymer-modified bitumen: During the rainy season, many roads across the country become unfit for use, causing immense suffering to travellers. To extend the durability of pitch on the roads, BCSIR has invented polymer-modified bitumen.
Formalin detector: Customers in our country are always concerned about the widespread use of formalin in fish, milk and other fresh produce. Now, customers can test the quantity of formalin in fish and milk using the kit at home.
Natural preservative: People use formalin (a solution of formaldehyde and methanol) in food items to preserve them for a long time. But excessive use of the preservative can be poisonous and injurious to human health. Scientists of BCSIR have invented a natural preservative from leftover tea leaves, and vegetable and fruit peels, which is good for health.
Solar Oven: Fuel consumption of this solar product is very low. Cooking can be done with the rays of the sun.
Spirulina: It is a kind of blue-green algae that grow in alkaline water and contain plenty of protein, vitamins, iron and other minerals. There is a huge demand of spirulina as a dietary supplement at home and abroad. Besides, it is also used as herbal medicine to treat various conditions, like anaemia. Now, Bangladesh microalgae industry produces it commercially. It is available in the market in different forms, such as tablets, capsules, flakes, drinks and food additives.
Photos: Courtesy