The greatest opportunity to move Bangladesh forward lies in the proper utilization of technology, and the country must harness the talent of its researchers and 18 crore people, Science and Technology Secretary Md Anwar Hossain has said.
“The talent possessed by our researchers, the intellect of our 18 crore people, and the opportunities we have for innovation are unmatched by many countries in the world. We must harness this potential,” the secretary said as chief guest at a two-day seminar at the National Science and Technology Complex in Agargaon on Sunday.
The secretary noted that many countries have vast resources but lack human capital, while about 65 per cent of Bangladesh’s population consists of youth.
“Many nations will struggle to move forward due to a shortage of necessary human resource capital. We have immense potential,” he said.
“Artificial Intelligence (AI) will not solve all problems,” the secretary noted. “AI can suggest solutions, but it cannot make decisions; decisions are made by humans. And we possess that human capital, which many countries lack. I am highly optimistic that our young scientists will excel remarkably in the future.”
The ministry’s current focus is to bridge the gap between research and the market, Hossain said. “Translating research findings into tangible improvements for ordinary people’s standard of living and the economy is our biggest challenge. This cannot be achieved by researchers alone.”
He urged researchers to inform the ministry about the practical utility of their research and the specific support required, assuring full cooperation.
The secretary stressed that research must yield a visible impact and contribute directly to economic growth. “Mere research is not enough; it must be commercially viable and sector-specific. When you initiate research, your objectives and goals must be designed to carry the findings into the next phase so that it creates a real impact and serves a practical purpose,” he said.
Highlighting economic challenges, he said one core objective of research should be export diversification, noting that Bangladesh has struggled to develop other products sufficiently due to various limitations.
During the seminar, Associate Professor of Oceanography at Dhaka University Abu Hena Muhammad Yousuf presented a keynote on “Unlocking the Blue Economy: Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) For the Sustainable Ocean Governance in the Bay of Bengal,” proposing a comprehensive data infrastructure for maritime resources and strengthening the Blue Economy Cell.
Scientific officers from BCSIR and researchers from Khulna University and Jagannath University also presented their research papers.
The seminar was chaired by Science and Technology Fellowship Trust CEO A.K.M. Shaukat Alam Mojumder, with BCSIR Chairman Dr Samina Ahmed as special guest.
