The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Gazipur

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed Tuesday urged the Muslim countries to strive hard to revive the past glory of Muslims in science and technology to fulfill the future promise. "…not a single member of the OIC currently holds the status of a technologically developed nation," he lamented. The head of the caretaker government expressed the views while addressing the 21st Convocation of Islamic University of Technology (IUT), a subsidiary organ of Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), at the IUT auditorium on the outskirts of the capital. Dr Fakhruddin said the arrival of Islam over fourteen hundred years ago transformed world civilization. Muslim scholars enriched different branches of science and technology during the golden era of Islamic civilization.

Recalling that the Muslim scholars made immense contributions to mathematics, chemistry, medicine, physics, architecture, arts and philosophy, he said the renaissance in Europe, in fact, owes much to the enlightened minds of Islamic scholars.

"Sadly Muslims have not always lived up to that glorious heritage. It is quite unfortunate that not a single member of the OIC currently holds the status of a technologically developed nation." The Chief Adviser said the technological revolution of recent years has dramatically changed the lifestyle of human societies all over the world.

He said the march of technology is also accelerating the process of globalization. Markets are becoming more and more competitive and to remain competitive the Muslim countries must continuously update their technological know-how as well as acquire, adapt and apply necessary skills efficiently and effectively.

"Islamic countries must devote more resources, time and effort to set up and run world-class educational institutions, universities and R&D establishments in order to transform themselves into truly knowledge-based societies."

OIC member states currently spend under half a percent of their GDPs on research and development, compared to 2.4 percent by developed states, he told the function.

The Chief Adviser requested the General Secretariat of OIC to consider introducing academic scholarship like that of Commonwealth to enable the science graduates of OIC member states to pursue higher education.

He also urged the Secretariat to generate a fund from member countries to support R&D activities for the common good of the Ummah. "We in Bangladesh remain fully prepared to provide all possible help and assistance in these areas."

A total of 191 students, most from Bangladesh and others from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Palestine, Libya, Gambia, Nigeria, Cameroon, Somalia, Senegal, Jordan, Maldives, Niger and Yemen for academic year of 2006-07 got Bachelor, Masters and post-Graduate degrees and diplomas in Technical Education, Computer Science & Information Technology, Electrical & Electronic Engineering, and Mechanical and Chemical Engineering.

The Chief Adviser distributed certificates as a token among the fresh graduates and Masters degree obtaining students at the function. He also distributed IUT Gold Medal 2007 and OIC Gold Medal 2007 among the recipients.