Biotechnology Awareness Building Workshop in Bangladesh

The Vice Chancellor of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Professor Dr. M. Rafiqul Hoque reiterated his  support towards biotechnological development in the University and will push for the immediate implementation of research activities. During the inauguration on 03 July 2013, he opined  that Bangladesh is marginally self-sufficient in food and can run into grave crisis at anytime due to the vulnerability to climatic and environmental disasters.

Dr. G. P. Das, Country Coordinator, Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project II (ABSPII), delivered a talk on biotechnology capacity building and the project details. The field trial results and progress of Bt Brinjal and RB Potato were explained by Dr. M. Nazimuddin and Dr. T. K. Dey of BARI. The Global Status of Biotech Crops was discussed by Prof. Dr. K. M. Nasiruddin, ISAAA National Coordinator.  The speakers emphasized that biotech crops are always released and cultivated under a transparent and stringent regulatory mechanism for food, feed, and  environmental safety, following the Cartagena Biosafety Protocol to avoid  unintended adverse effect.

The USAID-Cornell University-Sathguru managed Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project II (ABSPII) in collaboration with Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) and Bangladesh Agricultural University,  organized the 4-day workshop. There were 64 District level Deputy Directors of Department of Agriculture Extension (Ministry of Agriculture), Biotechnology and related Deans and Heads of 32 public universities who attended the workshop.

For details of this workshop as well as information on biotechnology in Bangladesh , contact Prof. K. M. Nasiruddin of Bangladesh Biotechnology Information Center at nasirbiotech@yahoo.com