The New Nation - Internet Edition

BAU Correspondent, Mymensingh

Eminent agri-scientist National Professor and former Vice Chancellor of Bangladesh Agriculture University Professor Dr. A.K.M. Aminul Haque said that Biotechnology has a potential to alleviate poverty and hunger in developing countries including Bangladesh and deserves an extra focus from concerned scientists and functionaries.

Speaking as chief guest at the inaugural function of a two-day International Congress on 'Biotechnology in Animal Reproduction (lCBAR) 'held at the Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin auditorium of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) in collaboration with ICBAR, Japan on Wednesday Dr. Aminul Haque added that use of biotechnology in animal production has been making rapid advances. Worldwide, more than one-half of all biotechnology research and development expenditures are in the field of human health.

Presided over by Japanese Scientist of international repute Professor Dr. Gentaro Oguri, President, Association of ICBAR, the inaugural session was attended by BAU ViceChancellor Professor Dr. Md. Akhtar Hossain as chief patron. Professor Dr. Tatsuki Suzuki, Vice-President, Association of ICBAR delivered address of welcome. Organising Secretary of 15th CBAR Professor Dr. Md. Golam Shahi Alam gave vote of thanks.

Beside, host Bangladesh, representatives from Japan, South Korea, China, India, Egypt, New Zealand ,Canada, U.K., Italy, Bulgaria, Sweden and other countries of the world took part in the conference on 'Reproductive Biotechnology' where 50 research papers and articles were presented by the eminent scientists.

Vice-Chancellor Dr. Hossain said that the objective of the conference is to bring scientists and academicians from all over the world to promote greater understanding of the biotechnological issues, sharing new scientific knowledge and raise awareness of their potential benefits and risks and the implications in terms of needed regulatory framework, institutional capacity building and human resource development.

In his presidential speech, Dr. Gentaro Oguri said food security and nutritional status of the peoples are under threat. To improve their nutritional conditions, effective and more sustainable technologies are required for better production of food of animal origin.