The New Nation - Internet Edition

Dr. M. S. Haq

The recent letters of Prof. SAM and Mr. Mostafiz pertaining to above matters in the national dailies of Bangladesh reflected on, among other things, the city-location of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU), Dhaka - Bangladesh. The letters are self-explanatory. The writers provided a number of reasons in support of their suggestions regarding relocation of SAU to a non-city location. It is fine.

But I have comments to make on matters connected with, and ancillary to, the relocation proposed by above writers. Here are a few of them.

1. I believe the country's competing national priorities - particularly in areas of food, energy, security (physical, virtual), trade, investment, democracy, and people's sufferings on account of say, price hikes, poverty and hunger - deserve, at this point in time, more attention and action of Bangladeshis, the army-supported government, friends of Bangladesh (including inter alia the US, the UK) and others than the need for relocation of SAU to another location.

2. In the resource-starved Bangladesh - particularly, in terms of usable resources due inter alia to natural causes, and person-made causes such as and as appropriate corruption, inadequate or underperforming policies plus programs, institutional weaknesses and poor political governance over a long period of time (used in an average sense) - the need for minimization of wastage in a drastic manner at local, national and other levels will be, among other things, critical to shaping the future of Bangladesh at least between now and the foreseeable future. One of the ways of doing that will involve: consolidating further, strengthening further and sustaining on a continuous basis efforts towards building the country's future on existing capacities, resources and potentials - as far as practicable and feasible. It implies inter alia a consideration of the proposal (I mean, relocation of SAU) under the prevailing situation by relevant authorities may not be time-sensitive, value-additive and compatible with the overall interest of the country.

3. For maintaining a continuous and meaningful flow of development in the present day domain of knowledge, understanding and application - whether or not relating to say, agriculture or engineering or medicine - the need for transactions between and among actors and institutions at physical and other levels of local, national, global and other origins cannot be ruled out. It implies inter alia: the role of location related advantages in top-down transactions, bottom-up transactions and side way-transactions within the domain mentioned could not only be instrumental in facilitating its (I mean, the domain's) enrichment in qualitative, quantitative and other terms but affording teachers, students, scientists, policy-makers and others additional opportunities for demonstrating and sustaining excellence in for example, research, development and engineering (RDE) initiatives, as well as activities in pertinent areas. It is in that and other relevant contexts (transparency related inadequacies, etc.), the physical presence of SAU near the seat of say, national planning and decision-making (I mean, Dhaka city) can be considered, in many senses, strategic and desirable, among other things.

The strategic location of SAU has, in a sense, put the university in unique position because it afforded the university additional opportunities for transacting with other agri-varsities in matters pertaining to relevant plans, policies, programs and developments (to mention, a few) at national and other levels - an example of top-down transaction. On the other hand, the physical locations of other agri-varsities (suburb, semi-urban, rural) are also strategic in nature when it comes to opportunities for transacting with SAU and other universities (bottom-up, for example) in pertinent areas - bringing up inter alia divisional and local agri-perspectives to national and other levels. What a superb opportunity for cross fertilization of knowledge, understanding and application in relevant areas!

Although the present day diversity in terms of physical locations of for example, agri-varsities in Bangladesh has already opened up the door for say, cooperation and coordination in academic, non-academic and other areas but concerned universities are yet to harness, in one form or another and in an average sense, the resultant opportunities in the best and overall interest of Bangladesh in particular and the world at large.

The introduction or strengthening of approaches such as organizational learning and community of practice (I do not know the present status of Bangladesh in those areas) could assist the effort of both public and private universities and others towards building, sustaining and promoting inter alia a true knowledge-based Bangladesh through the foreseeable future. It is hoped that will be the case in not too distant a future.

4. As regards the maintenance of peace and tranquility in surrounding areas, I believe a committee comprising representatives of students, teachers, local law enforcers, parents, local government and local civil society could be helpful in dealing with the matter in a proper and timely fashion provided that the committee enjoys inter alia support and commitment of all concerned. If the committee of above nature does exist at this point in time, I might then elect to suggest strengthening of the committee operations in a more meaningful and result-oriented manner and on an urgent basis - among other things.

The last word: let us work together for a continually progressive and prosperous Bangladesh.