The Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (IBGE) at Gazipur Agricultural University (GAU) celebrated World DNA Day 2025 with vibrant events highlighting the transformative role of DNA science in agriculture, health and environmental sustainability.
The daylong program, held on Friday, 2025, united students, researchers and global experts to honor the 72nd anniversary of the discovery of DNA’s double-helix structure while showcasing Bangladesh’s leadership in biotechnology.
The festivities commenced with a spirited campus rally at 9:30am, led by Dr Zahurul Karim (Vice President, Bangladesh Academy of Sciences) and Prof Tofazzal Islam (Founding Director of IBGE and World Academy of Sciences Fellow).
Over 150 participants—including faculty, students, reporters and researchers—marched with banners, placards and DNA-themed artworks, underscoring breakthroughs in genomics, food security and climate-resilient agriculture.
The procession concluded at GAU’s administrative building, where the ceremonial release of balloons symbolized the university’s commitment to advancing life sciences.
At 10am, students competed in a dynamic quiz testing (national Olympiad) their expertise in genome editing, bioinformatics and biotechnology.
Students and researchers displayed groundbreaking work on microbial genomics, crop resilience and sustainable biofertilizers, drawing acclaim for creativity and scientific rigor.
The highlight of the day, held at GAU’s auditorium, featured a keynote address by Prof Tofazzal Islam, titled “From DNA to Genome Editing: A Revolutionary Chapter in Biosciences.”
Keynote highlight include (i) historic breakthroughs: Prof Islam traced the journey from Watson and Crick’s 1953 discovery to CRISPR-based genome editing, likening DNA to “life’s software” with limitless potential.
He spotlighted IBGE’s pioneering work, including: (i) Decoding the year-round jackfruit genome to enhance nutrition security, (ii) Mapping the gut microbiome of Hilsa fish and soil microbiomes across Bangladesh’s 14 Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZ), (iii) Developing blast-resistant wheat through gene stacking and a rapid, low-cost wheat blast detection kit (funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for global deployment).
Dr Zahurul Karim emphasized DNA’s role as “the blueprint of life" urging students to tackle climate challenges through innovation.
Prof Shah Mohammad Naimul Islam (IBGE Director) praised the collaborative spirit of the event, organized by 4th-year BSc students and IBGE researchers.
Former directors Prof Mahbubur Rahman and Prof Morshedur Rahman echoed calls for interdisciplinary research to address food security and biodiversity loss.
The day concluded with an awards ceremony honoring winners of the Olympiad, poster presentations and quiz competitions.
Participants left inspired by the fusion of scientific curiosity and real-world impact, reinforcing GAU’s role as a hub for biotechnological innovation.