BAEC must harness its talent to boost national development: Fakir Mahbub

A discussion meeting titled “Strengthening the Institutional and Applied Capabilities of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission: Current Status, Challenges and Way Forward”, organised by the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Scientists’ Association (BAESA), was held at the Dr Anwar Hossain Auditorium of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) headquarters on Sunday. 

Fakir Mahbub Anam, MP, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, attended the meeting as the chief guest. Rehan Asif Asad, Adviser to the Prime Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and Science and Technology, attended as a special guest.

Science and Technology Ministry Secretary Md Anwar Hossain and Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Dr M. Moinul Islam were also present at the meeting as special guests.

The event was chaired by Dr A. S. M. Saifullah, Director General of the Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Savar, and President of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Scientists’ Association (BAESA).

Chief Guest Fakir Mahbub Anam said there is no other institution in the country with as many highly talented professionals as the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission. He stressed the need to utilise this pool of talent effectively for national development. He assured the government’s fullest cooperation in resolving the existing problems of the commission and enhancing its institutional capabilities.

Speaking at the meeting, Rehan Asif Asad said the Prime Minister is working relentlessly to meet the country’s growing energy demand and is also considering the use of Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology for nuclear power generation. He assured that the government would extend necessary support to the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission in its research and development activities aimed at the welfare and development of the people.

In a keynote paper, Dr A. S. M. Saifullah said nuclear science and technology is a key strategic capability for Bangladesh’s science-, technology- and innovation-driven development, with applications in agriculture, healthcare, food and energy security, industry and the environment.

He said Point 30 of the government’s 31-point reform agenda, which calls for strengthening BAEC’s institutional and applied research capabilities, is particularly significant. He stressed the need to transform BAEC into a stronger, modern, efficient and future-oriented institution.

He highlighted BAEC’s contributions to agriculture, healthcare, industry, water resources, environment, nuclear medicine and nuclear power, as well as key facilities at its Savar research establishment, including a research reactor, cyclotron, tandem accelerator, gamma irradiator, LINAC, tissue bank and advanced laboratories.

He also noted BAEC’s role in nuclear medicine, cancer treatment, disease diagnosis and radioisotope production, as well as in developing climate-resilient crops, food preservation and radiation-based technologies.

Experts who participated in the discussion included Engineer Ali Zulkarnain, former Chairman of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and a noted nuclear reactor expert; Dr Md Sanowar Hossain, former Chairman of BAEC; Dr Faria Nasrin, former Director of the Biological Sciences Division; and Md Hasinur Rahman, Member (Planning) of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission.