Dhaka 9th January, 2015. The second GNOBB International conference in Health and Agriculture was inaugurated by the Hon’able agriculture Minister, Begum Matia Chowdhury at 9 A.M. in the Main Auditorium of the Senate Bhaban, Dhaka University. In the above inauguration photo, the Minister is seen on the podium. Next to her on the left is Professor Dr. Nasreen Nasreen Ahmad (Pro Vice Chancellor- Academic, DU)  Next to her on the left is Prof. A.S. Islam and Dr. Firdausi Qadri. At the outset of his welcome speech Professor  Ahmad S. Islam requested the members of the audience to stand up in silence for a minute in memory of Late Dr. Maqsudul Alam, the outstanding biotechnologist of world fame who decoded the genome of Hawaiian papaya, the Malaysian rubber plant and the jute genome. In the welcome speech, Professor Islam proposed that the present conference be dedicated to his memory and that the biotech lab which was built at his initiation and under his guidance in the premises of Jute Research Institute be named after him.The Honorable Minister for Agriculture Begum Matia Chowdhury spoke describing the important role of Biotechnology in the development of Bangladesh and that her Government is ready to extend all possible help to promote this emerging science. The Agricultural minister laid emphasis on the necessity of Biotechnological research to solve emerging challenges in Bangladesh such as climate change and salinity which are imposing serious threats to agriculture. Begum Matia Chowdhury emphasized the necessity of developing stress tolerant crop varieties as a solution to these problems. She commented that we need to build our capacity to use cutting edge biotechnological products like Oil eating bacteria that could help tackle recent oil spill in the Sunderbans. She also mentioned while talking to members during tea break that the Government has given permission to the release of Btbrinjal. The GNOBB coordinator presented the Minister with a beautifully designed crest in recognition of the great service she rendered to develop agriculture in the country.

The Special Guest Professor Nasreen Ahmed emphasized on the government’s role in stimulating research collaborations between public and private sector. In the picture on the right, the Minister is  seen relaxing in the lounge adjacent to the Conference Hall. Next to her in the close wise direction are: Profesor Haseena Khan, Professor Anwar Hossain, the GNOBB Coordinator and Dr. Firdausi Qadri

Among the foreign guests were: Dr. Narendra Tuteja and Dr. Renu Tuteja at the ICGEB, Delhi Center from India. Dr Narendra gave a talk as a plenary speaker. The audience was spell bound by his talk. Dr. Firdausi Qadri, the Director of Vaccine Laboratory, ICDDR,B and Secretary, the Organizing Committee of the Conference also spoke thanking everyone for the hard work they did to make the conference a great success. Among those who attended the conference were: Professor Dr. Anwar Hossain, Dr, Naiyyum Choudhury, Professor Mozammel Hoque, Dr. Khwaja Sultanul Aziz. Dr. Lutful Kabir and many other distinguished scientists.