Members of the Bangladesh Association of Biotechnology Graduates (BABG) have demanded the swift implementation of the appointment of Dr Mohammad Shahidur Rahman as the new Director General of the National Institute of Biotechnology (NIB).
The BABG held a press conference to protest against the misinformation and conspiracies directed at Dr Md Shahedur Rahman, a skilled organizer and dedicated biotechnologist who has been recently appointed as the DG of NIB.
The press conference was held at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in the capital at 4pm on Saturday.
Dr Mushtaq Ibn Ayub, associate professor of the Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology at Dhaka University, read a written statement during the press conference.
Speakers at the conference urged the government to promptly hand over the responsibilities of the Director General position to Dr Shahidur Rahman.
Currently, there are biotechnology departments in 29 universities across the country, producing approximately 1,100 graduates annually. However, there are no concrete plans or initiatives to effectively utilize these graduates as skilled biotechnologists, which the speakers attributed to a long-standing leadership crisis, said the speakers.
They welcomed the appointment of Dr Shahidur Rahman, who has an academic background in biotechnology and extensive research experience, as the first-ever Director General of the central biotechnology agency, NIB, and acknowledged his contributions to the field.
Shahidur Rahman has played a vital role in advancing biotechnology in Bangladesh. He serves diligently as the president of the BABG and has been part of the committee responsible for formulating biotechnology policies in the country, as well as working as an advisor on various government committees, they said.
He has also developed biotechnology syllabuses for various universities in Bangladesh and played a significant role in involving biotechnologists as volunteers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, he was instrumental in including biotechnology in the BCS examination, which was a long-standing demand of biotechnology graduates. His leadership organization has been the driving force behind initiatives aimed at creating employment opportunities for biotechnologists.
As a patriotic individual, he stood by students during the mass uprising of 2024. When hundreds of protesting students from Jahangirnagar University and other institutions faced attacks from police and thugs, he ensured their safe shelter at a nearby location. Despite his support for students and the country, certain groups have spread misinformation to obstruct his appointment, they added.
During the press conference, participants condemned and protested against this falsehood and conspiracy on behalf of all biotechnologists in the country.
They announced plans for a work stoppage, human chain demonstrations, and other activities if Dr Shahidur Rahman is not allowed to join without delay.
The conference concluded with a strong demand to the relevant authorities of the government to facilitate Dr Shahidur Rahman’s immediate appointment as the DG of NIB, in the interest of advancing biotechnology research and practices in the country.
