Dhaka Bureau: Despite good research in agriculture and science, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina criticized the limited research in the health sector and called for “special attention to research in medical science.”
On Thursday, March 2, at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital, the Ministry of Science and Technology organized the ‘Bangabandhu Science and Technology Fellowship’, ‘NST Fellowship,” and ‘Special Research Grant’ awards ceremonies among the teachers, scientists, researchers, and students of various universities and research institutes. He said this in the guest speech.
The prime minister said, ‘We want our research to continue all the time. But I can’t say one sad thing, which is that our agricultural research is going on and science is going on. But research in our health sector is very limited. So pay special attention to research in medical science.
He also mentioned that the government wants to advance the country by developing labor-intensive industries using modern technology.
Expressing disappointment, the Prime Minister said that a group of doctors left medical practice and research after obtaining the MBBS degree and went into government jobs or politics. And there is another class; they are busy making money. At the same time, he also practices in government jobs and private practice. After government jobs and private practice, there is no more research.
We need health research. Health science research is done by a very limited number of people. However, as a result of his repeated statements, there has been some progress, but he also pointed out that more is needed.
Emphasizing adapting to technology in a changing world, the head of government said that technology is constantly changing and the new theory of the 4th industrial revolution has arrived. As a result, our manpower may be less. But technology has to be used appropriately. Information technology has to be used, and for that we need skilled labor.
The prime minister said, “We want to make labor-intensive industries. Because we have to provide employment to a large population. The thought of how we can advance our country by combining these two ideas should be on everyone’s mind.
Sheikh Hasina said that the government needs skilled scientists. And keeping that in mind, they are giving importance to research. Bangabandhu Fellowships in MS, MPhil, and PhD North programs for science and applied research and study at home and abroad to produce skilled scientists and technologists. From 2010 to the 2022–2023 financial year, 682 people have been given fellowships worth about Tk 268 crore ($70 lakh). Apart from this, National Science and Technology Fellowships are being offered at the MPhil, PhD, and PhD post-doctoral levels. Under this fellowship, 25,000 researchers have been given scholarships or grants totaling about 157 crore 51 lakh rupees since 2009-10. It is only from the Ministry of Science and Technology. Besides, fellowships, scholarships, and stipends are being given from the Prime Minister’s Educational Assistance Trust.
He said that besides fellowships, special grants are being given to scientists and researchers to encourage science and technology research and development work. From 2009-10 to the current financial year, research grants of Tk 177 crore (US$ 54 lakh) have been given in favor of 5 thousand 521 projects.
The Prime Minister said, I hope that those who have received grants for this research or fellowship will do research with a little sincerity.I also want to know what you invented and how much it will be useful in our country. Actually, there is no end to the research.
Science and Technology Minister Architect Yafes Osman and senior secretary of the concerned ministry Ziaul Hassan spoke on the occasion.
