Biotech Updates

Bangladesh Crops & Forest Biotech Policy Guidelines Finalized

April 23, 2010

Engg Yafesh Osman, Bangladesh's Minister for Science and Information and Communication Technology (MOSICT), led the group that finalized the National Crops & Forest Biotech Policy Guidelines during a workshop at the Bangabandhu Novotheatre Auditorium, Dhaka on April 07, 2010. An estimated 80 senior scientists, academia and policy planners of different ministries of Bangladesh attended the workshop.

As Chief Guest of the Inaugural session, the Minister listened to the participants' views and declared that the Government has adopted a pro-biotech attitude and will support the development of genetically modified organisms. He mentioned that the National Institute of Biotechnology (NIB) Bill along with 4 more biotech- related bills were placed by him in the last Parliamentary Session where the NIB Bill was approved. Other bills are in various stages of enactment. The Minister committed to work on legal documents that scientists need to enable them to use modern biotechnology to enhance food, feed and fiber production in Bangladesh.

For more information about crop biotechnology in Bangladesh email Dr. Khondoker Nasiruddin at nasirbiotech@yahoo.com