Biography

 

Dr. M. A. Wazed Miah

(BAAS President: 1995-2000)

 

 

Dr. M. A. Wazed Miah was born on 16 February 1942 at Fatehpur, Pirganj, Rangpur, Bangladesh. He obtained B.Sc. (Hons.) and M.Sc. in Physics from Dhaka University in 1961 and 1962 respectively. He received Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics from the Darham University, UK in 1967. He also received Post Doctorate degree from International Research Centre for Theoretical Physics, Itali in 1970.

Dr. Miah started his career as a Scientific Officer in Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, Lahore. From 1975 to 1982 he worked in Atomic Energy Commission of India. In 1982, he joined in Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission. From 1985 to 1993, he was the Director of Atomic Energy Centre, Dhaka. He was the Chairman of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission from 1997 to 1999. His fields of specialization were fundamentals interaction and particle physics, nuclear and reactor physics, solid state physics, electromagnetism, health and radiation physics and renewable energy.

Dr. Miah was the President of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Scientist Forum, Bangladesh Physicist Society. He was awarded the „Sir Jogodish Chandra Basu‟ Gold Medal and MABS International Gold Medal.

Dr. M. A. W. Miah expired on 9th May 2009

 

 

Presidential Address

29 October 1996

Science, Technology and Sustainable Development

 

 

Honourable Chief Guest, Mr. Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed, Honourable President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh; Honourable Ministers, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh;

Honourable Members of the Parliament; Excellencies, the Members of the Diplomatic Corps;

Distinguished Guests and Delegates from Home and Abroad; Fellow         

Members and  Office  Bearers of the Bangladesh Association for the Advancement of Science;

Members of the Press and Other Information Media; Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

Assalamu Alaikum.

 

 

At the outset, on behalf of the Bangladesh Association for the Advancement of Science as well as on my own behalf as President of the Association, I whole heartedly thank you all for kindly taking the trouble of attending this Inaugural Ceremony of the Nineteenth Bangladesh Science Conference sponsored by the Association and hosted by the Jahangir Nagar University. We are indeed grateful to you all for your king presence on this occasion. We are particularly grateful to esteemed Chief Guest, Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed, the Honourable President of the People‟s Repulic of Bangladesh for gracing this occasion by his kind presence and giving his kind consent to inaugurate this conference. This undoubtedly is a manifestation of not only his respect for the scientists and technologists but also his concern and support for the advancement of science and technology in achieving the cherished goal of building a prosperous and self-reliant Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Association for the Advancement of Science (BAAS) is an institution of practicing scientists, engineers, medical doctors, technologists, social scientists and planners of various branches of science and technology. Some of its important aims and objectives are: (i) to work for the general advancement of science and technology including their application to practical problems; (ii) to promote and encourage research in different branches of science and technology as well as help development of science and technology on a national level; (iii) to organize conferences, symposia, seminars, etc. on subjects of scientific and technological interest as well as on issues relating to socio-economic problems;

(iv) to stimulate public interest in and enlist public support for science and technology; (v) to award research fellowships and financial grants-in-aid for special research in different areas of science and technology; (vi) to award prizes in recognition of the scientific and technology-related work on the basis of merits of papers presented during each National Science Conference; (vii) to publish Proceedings, Journals, Memoirs, transactions and Books as may be found desirable and feasible for dissemination of knowledge  and  information  concerning  science  and technology;

(viii) to promote and safeguard the interests of scientists and technologists working in various institutions and sectors of Bangladesh and (ix) to maintain, develop and extend international relations and cooperation in different fields of science and technology as well as maintain contacts and collaborations with foreign scientific and technology-minded organizations devoted to similar aims and objectives.

 

Respected Guests, Fellow Members of BAAS, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The 18th Bangladesh Science Conference was held on June 22-24, 1994 at the Bangladesh Agriculture University in Mymensingh. This 19th Bangladesh Science Conference was first, as already

 

mentioned by Professor Amirul Islam Chowdhury, Chairman, Organizing Committee and Vice Chancellor of this University, scheduled to be held on May 21-23, 1996. But in view of the inconvenient circumstances prevailing in the country at that time, the schedule of the conference had to be shifted. Such shifting of the dates of this Science Conference has, on doubt, caused a lot of inconveniences to both foreign and local guests and delegates. We very much regret the inconveniences and trouble thus caused for circumstances, which were beyond our control. We are, however, happy to note that in spite of such disturbances, a good number of foreign guests and delegates as well as local scientists and technologists have managed to come to attend this Science Conference.

 

 

Honourable Chief Guest, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is well-known that Bangladesh is one of the 31 least developed as well as poorest countries in the world with its present position  as third from the bottom. The population of the country is already

120.5 millions in a small land of area of 147,570 square kilometers and is increasing annually at the rate of over 2 per cent. Bangladesh has already the highest population density (of about 800 per square kilometer) in the world excepting city-states like Singapore. About 80% of the people of Bangladesh live in rural areas, out of which more than 50% is landless peasants. From the point of view of minimum daily food and protein intake (which are recommended to be 3000 calories and 60 grammes respectively) about 70% of rural and 40% of the urban people live below the poverty line. The present average literacy rate is only about 35% the female literary being around 17 per cent only. The economy of the country is still based on agriculture which accounts for about 46 per cent of the gross domestic products (GDP). The country is frequently struck by natural calamities such as floods, cyclones, tornadoes, tidal bores, etc. which cause colossal damages to agriculture, properties and infrastructures. Every year, the country has to import about 2 million tones of food grains and seek foreign assistance of loans, grants, etc., to the extent of about 2 billion U.S.

 

dollars to meet its needs for imports of food grains, industrial and other goods and services as well as for financing development projects. Repayments of foreign loans further aggravate our financial burdens and liabilities. The other well-known negative aspect of foreign loans is that these are very often tagged with such conditionalities that curtail, to a large extent, the freedom to manage our economic and development activities in the way we deem fit and appropriate. Frequent civil strife, social anarchy and labour unrest also cause huge economic and financial losses. Campus violence frequently occurring in most of the educational institutions has not only vitiated the overall academic environment but also deteriorated the quality of education in Bangladesh. These are some of the negative factors that have, over the years, impeded and will continue impeding, unless remedied, the advancement of scientific, technical and technological base essential for the sustainable economic, social and cultural development in Bangladesh.

 

Honourable Chief Guest, Ladies and Gentlemen

A focal theme relating to one or more national problems of socio- economic importance is selected for every National Science Conference in order to stimulate discussions thereon for finding out what kind of measures need to be adopted, what kind of scientific studies and research need to be carried out locally to develop the appropriate technologies required or what kind of technologies need to be imported from abroad and applied with their suitable adaptation and innovation for solving the same. As stated earlier, Bangladesh is beset with many problems and handicaps which need to be tenaciously and vigorously addressed and solved for achieving rapid and sustainable socio-economic development. In this context, it may be pointed out that developed as well as newly industrializing countries, such as India, China, Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand, etc., have developed and are continuing to develop through building up sufficiently strong scientific and technological infrastructures, well-equipped, well- managed and sufficiently financed R & D institutions and facilities

 

and making concerted and coherent efforts to utilize such facilities for human resource development as well as development of various appropriate technologies and managing skillfully the imported technologies with desired adaptation and innovation. Bangladesh can and should follow the same route if it has to make great strides in achieving the desired development in all sectors of its economy.

In Bangladesh, a reasonable infrastructure has already been developed for conducting R&D work as well as human resource development in various fields of science and technology. At present, there are in Bangladesh, 64 institutions and 106 departments in 8 of the 11 Government Universities engaged in carrying out scientific and technology related R&D activities under 13 different ministries of the Government. The total manpower (comprising scientists, engineers, technologists and others), engaged in different R&D organizations/institutions, including universities, are 16,496 (R&D organizations: 13,413 and universities: 3,083), of which 15,747 are males and 749 females. Of the total manpower, 5,843 are scientists and engineers, 3,645 are technicians and 7,008 are non-technical supporting officers and staff. Besides these R&D Laboratories, at present no R&D Laboratories worth mentioning exist in industries in either public or private sector in Bangladesh. There are, however, a few Consultancy Firms offering services merely for import of technologies. The scientists, engineers and technologists in the universities and public sector R&D Laboratories are, no doubt, as we learn from various reports and publications, trying hard to put in their best in their respective job and profession. But, most of them are suffering from frustration and despair. The reasons for the prevalence of such widespread despair are not far to seek. There is not a single institution which is sufficiently equipped with work facilities and funds to enable the people engaged in the R&D work therein to achieve the goals and targets set for them. Moreover, there are no perceptible signs of serious efforts being made at the top national levels of the Government to prioritize the areas of R&D and mobilize the services of these institutions for achieving the purpose for which have been built. Even so, most of these R&D Institutions have made some progress in their respective fields. But, the methods, processes, devices, technologies, etc. developed in these Laboratories are, in most cases, yet to be brought up to the levels and standards of well-tested, technologies so that they could be used on wider scales to meet the national needs in various socio-economic sectors. Considering this regrettable situation, the topic “Science, Technology and Sustainable Development” has been chosen as the focal theme of this Science Conference in the hope of drawing the attention of the policy and decision makers at the higher levels of the Government.

 

Honourable Chief Guest, Fellow Scientists, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Before I conclude, I seek your kind permission to submit some concrete proposals, for strengthening the R&D efforts so as to facilitate attaining a reasonable capability and self-reliance in this regard for sustainable development in maximum possible number of socio-economic sectors. Towards this end, a semi-autonomous organization with the name “National Foundation for Science and Technology (NFST)” needs to be created in Bangladesh through an enactment by the National Parliament. This Body will be directly responsible for promoting and making all efforts and arrangements for commercialization of all technologies developed by any R&D Laboratory or individual in Bangladesh. This Body should also be authorized to generate a Research and Development Fund (RDF) taking contributions from individuals, private and public sector undertakings, Corporate Bodies, etc. Incentives in the form of tax rebate should be offered to motivate them in making such contributions. Moreover, a law may be made providing for compulsory deduction at the disbursement points a certain percentages of all loans taken for commercial purposes from both scheduled, commercial and investment banks as contributions to the RDF.

It may be recalled that with a view to ensuring effective and fruitful implementation of the Science and Technology Policy as adopted by the Government, in 1986, BAAS, BAS and BASSP jointly submitted to the then Prime Minister on 1 December 1991 a set of recommendations. The salient points of the recommendations were: (1) up gradation of the then Science and Technology Division to an independent full-fledged Ministry; (2) reconstituting the then National Council for Science and Technology (NCST) and ECNCST (Executive Committee of the NCST) to make them much more effective and truly representative bodies of scientists, technologists and other experts and specialists who can make valuable contributions towards correct, effective, realistic and fruitful implementation of the S&T Policy; (3) establishment, on priority basis, of a “National Centre for Technology Development and Transfer (NCTDT)”; (4) establishment of a Science and Technology Complex where, besides a separate large Auditorium, two other separate multistory buildings to be constructed, one to provide spaces for the offices of the S&T Ministry, NCST and ECNCST, and the other to provide spaces for BAS, BAAS, BASSP and other mono-discipline Scientists‟ Associations as well as other common ancillary and supporting facilities and services; (5) introduction of identical Service Rules for all R&D organizations; and (6) raising the retirement age from 57 to 60 and providing 4-tier pay scales for the scientists and technologists of all R&D organizations in the line with the present system in the universities. After repeated persuasions an independent Ministry of Science and Technology was established in August 1993. But regrettably other recommendations are yet to be implemented.

It was also mentioned in the said joint BAS, BAAS and BASSP Recommendation Document that the S&T Ministry may not administer any R&D organization. Rather it should be responsible only for identifying the projects and R&D activities to be carried out by different R&D organizations and institutions, which will be or remain placed under the administrative control of different concerned Ministries, and promoting and supervising the wide scale uses and commercialization of the technologies developed by these and other R&D organizations and institutions in the country.

 

Accordingly, it will be necessary for the S&T Ministry to have, besides Administration Division, several Technical Divisions, such as, Division for Physical Sciences and Environment, Division for Food, Agriculture and Water Resources, Division for Medical and Bio-Sciences, Division for Engineering and Physical Infrastructures, Division for Energy and Mineral Resources, etc. to be able to play its due role effectively. These technical divisions will provide back-up support to NFST as well as ECNCST and NCST. The key posts in these Divisions should be manned by scientists, engineers, technologists and technology specialists. Furthermore, the Secretary of the S&T Ministry should be scientist or an engineer or a technology specialist. An eminent scientist or engineer or a technology specialist should be appointed as Chief Scientific Adviser to the S&T Ministry as well as Vice Chairman of the ECNCST, its Chairman being the Minister in charge of the S&T Ministry. Obviously, the Head of the Government, the Prime Minister, and the Minister in charge of the S&T Ministry ought to remain, as at present, Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively of the NCST. The S&T Ministry will supervise and administer the functions of NFST, NCTDT, Museum of Science and Technology (MST), National Science Library (NSL), BANSDOC, National Science Week observance, Science Clubs and promote the activities of professional societies, such as, BAS, BAAS, BASSP, etc. as at present.

 

Honourable Chief Guest, Delegates from Home and Abroad, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have already taken a long time in stating what I intended to say before this August gathering. I apologize for having to make such a lengthy speech and overtax your patience. I now wish to conclude my speech. But before I conclude, I once again thank the Honourable Chief guest, Justice Shahabudin Ahmed, President, Peoples Republic of Bangladesh and all present here. Many thanks for your kind and patient hearing.

 

Khuda Hafiz.

 

 

 

Presidential Address

28 November 1998

 

Infrastructure and Human Resource Development in Science and Technology: Bangladesh Perspective

 

 

Honourable Chief Guest Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed, Honourable

President of the Poeple’s Republic of Bangladesh;

Honourable Ministers, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh;

Honourable Members of the Parliament; Excellencies, the Members of Diplomatic Corps; Distinguished Guests and Delegates;

Fellow  Members and Office Bearers of the Bangladesh Association for the Advancement of Science;

Members of the Press and other Information Media; Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

Assalamu Alaikum.

 

 

On behalf of the Bangladesh Association for the Advancement of Science (BAAS) and on my own as President of the Association, I wholeheartedly thank you all for kindly taking the trouble of attending the Inaugural Ceremony of the “20th Bangladesh Annual Science Conference” sponsored jointly by the Association and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). We are grateful to you all for your kind presence here.

We are particularly grateful to the esteemed Chief Guest, Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed, Honourable President of the People‟s Republic of Bangladesh for kindly gracing this occasion by his kind presence here and kindly consenting to inaugurate the 20th Bangladesh Annual Science Conference. We shall indeed remember his kind graciousness to be present in this occasion as the Chief Guest inspite of the fact that the schedule of this Conference was changed three times. According to our first announcement this Conference was to be held on 25-28 June 1998. Due to unavoidable circumstances that schedule had to be shifted to 11-14 September, 1998. Again the schedule had to be shifted to 25-28 October, 1998 due to the severest flood of this century affecting more than two-third of the country. Finally this schedule

i.e the present schedule from 23-26 November, 1998 was changed to 28-30 November 1998 due to aftermath-effects of the flood and sufferings of the people. The Honourable President was very kind to take the trouble to adjust all his programmes to grace this occasion. I am really grateful for the trouble he has so kindly taken. We thank him from the core of our heart. This indeed shows his keen interest and eagerness to the cause of science and technology interest in our activities.

May I also mention that Honourable President, Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed had been very kind to give us his consent to inaugurate the BAAS organized 19th Bangladesh Annual Science Conference held in the Jahangirnagar University Campus on 29-31 October, 1996. He was so kind to travel by road all the 25 km away from Dhaka to Savar to inaugurate the conference early in the morning at 9.00 O‟clock.

The BAAS is a purely registered all Bangladesh Scientific Forum. Scientists from all R&D Institutions, Laboratories and Science Faculties of all the Universities are members of this prestigious organization. Scientists and Engineers of these institutes as well as eminent scientists and engineers from abroad usually participate in this Conference and present their research papers in the Technical Sessions of 9 different sections which take place simultaneously. This year about 500 papers are expected to be presented in the Technical Sessions of 9 different Sections. But as the period of the Conference has been shortened by a day the scientists may not get enough time for their presentation. We sincerely regret such inconvenience. Moreover, because of the several changes of the schedule of the Conference scientists from abroad who showed keen interest and willingness to attend the Conference could not be personally present though they sent abstracts of their papers. We express our deep regret that our scientists and engineers will be deprived of interacting with the foreign scientists.

As is well known, considering our needs and problems, a theme is usually chosen by the BAAS for each such Conference. The theme for the 17th Bangladesh Annual Science Conference held in the present Bangabandhu Agriculture University Campus, Salna Gazipur from 6-9 May 1992 was “Disaster Management and Sustainable Agriculture”. The theme of the 18th Conference held at the Bangladesh Agriculture University, Mymensingh from 22-

24 June 1994 was “Science and Technology for Poverty Alleviation in Bangladesh”. The theme of the last Annual Science Conference held in Jahangirnagar University Campus from 29-31 October, 1996 was „Science, Technology and Sustainable Development‟.  This  time  the  theme  of  the  Conference  has  been chosen as “Infrastructure and Human Resource Development in Science & Technology: Bangladesh Perspective”. To meet the socio-economic and industrial development needs as well as to make assessment about our Science & Technological Base to face the challenge of the 21st Century, the Organizing Committee has decided to make an evaluation of our present state of science and technology education base, R&D infrastructure and S&T management systems of the country. Accordingly, we have arranged three symposia during the conference on the following topics: (a) Problems of Science & Technology Education in Bangladesh, (b) Infrastructure Development in Applied Research in Bangladesh, (c) Aspects of Science & Technology Management in Bangladesh. The last one, i.e., Aspects of Science & Technology Management in Bangladesh, will be placed by me on the early hour of 29th November i.e., tomorrow. We hope the scientists will actively participate in the Conference, make an assessment   of   the   present   situation   so   that   some   concrete recommendations on the need for improvement of the present education, R&D and S&T Management systems as well S&T policy and National Development plan to meet the challenges of 21st Century.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As I mentioned in my Presidential Address in the Inaugural Session of the 19th Annual Science Conference, Bangladesh Academy of Science (BAS), Bangladesh Association for Advancement of Science (BAAS) and Bangladesh Association of the Scientists and Scientific Professions (BASSP) has jointly submitted to the Government in 1993 a set of recommendations for strengthening of S&T base, manpower base and management systems. At that time, nationally, science and technology used to be looked after by a division under a specific Ministry of the Government. After several meetings of these Associations with the Government as well as the then Head of the Government a full fledged S&T Ministry was formed which was one of our recommendations mentioned earlier. Another important recommendation  was  setting  up  of  a  „Science  Complex‟  with  a multi-storied building for providing accommodation for the Secretariat of the National Council for Science & Technology (NCST), National Science Foundation (NSF), National Center for Technology Development and Transfer (NCTDT), Bangladesh Academy of Science, Office Space and committee room for BAAS and BASSP and all other mono-disciplinary professional scientific bodies. Within that complex an auditorium with a sitting capacity of 1500-2000 was proposed to be set up. After a long delay the project was taken up by the S&T Ministry and I was made the Project Director of the Science & Technology Building which I proposed to be built on 3 acres of land. Later on, on my recommendation and submission made in the ECNEC meeting held under the Chairmanship of the present Honourable Prime Minister on 03 December 1997, a Sub-Committee was formed to recast the project in view of the scarcity of land as well as necessity of accommodation of other Government Scientific and R&D institutions in the same complex so that an integrated approach can be made for S&T Development. I am happy to announce that the Committee has completed and submitted its report to build a 15 storied building as well as an auditorium with sitting capacity of 1500 to be built on 2 acres of land at the Sher-e- Bangla Nagar and submitted the same for Government approval. The land has already been earmarked and the project will commence from July, 1999.

In this connection, I would like to mention that other recommendations of these Associations are yet to be materialized. In the Symposium presentation, I shall make some recommendations for modifications and improvement of the present systems so that the R&D and S&T Management could be made simple, speedy, efficient and effective in an integrated manner.

 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I sincerely thank you all for kindly giving me a patient hearing to my deliberation. I again personally thank our esteemed Chief Guest for being with us and giving us a patient and kind hearing to the problems of scientific community and science and technology management. Thank you once again.

 

 

Khuda Hafiz