THE history of developed and developing countries in recent times has long-established that science and technology is the central link that bonds the various sectors of the national economies such as agriculture, health, education, commerce and industry, environment, etc.

Undeniably, science and technology is the engine which, through research and development activities, drives the potentials within these sectors, be it product development, development of pilot plants or commercialisation of research results amongst others.

That the present government realises the importance of science and technology in national development and is keen to help Bangladesh function successfully in a knowledge-based, globalised economy is reflected in remarks made by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on many an occasion. The reflection is also there when we notice the swiftness with which her government executed the jute genome sequencingproject.

Many of her ministers are just as keen in this regard.

The jute genome sequencing was possible not only because of the quick release of necessary funds but also because our

agriculture minister, Begum Motia Chowdhury, felt so strongly and passionately about the importance of the project and was proactive in ensuring its smooth execution.

Shiekh Hasina is even aware of the fact that research scientists with a passion for science should not be confined within the age limit for serving in government research institutes. She knows that there are scientists who even past their retirement age have the potential to enrich science. Thus, we find her reiterating in many meetings that there should not be any age bar for scientists and that they should be allowed to work as long as they are able to contribute to the promotion of science.

All this is heartening to note for some of us striving for long to enthuse a research culture in this country and to imbibe into our bright young generation the necessity of research. It is very encouraging and reassuring to say the least to see the great importance the present government is attachingto scientific research.

We also remember with gratitude the exceptional increase in research funds that was made available through the Ministry of Science and Technology during Sheikh Hasina's last tenure. I take this opportunity to thank Dr. Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir who we understand had seen the necessity for

increasing science and technology funds from the pitiable amount then allocated for research. Through one such capacity development grant from the Ministry of Science and Technology I had been able to initiate research on jute molecular biology. This pioneering work on jute later set the stage for jute genome sequencing.

Against this backdrop, I refer with great surprise to a news item published in The Daily Star on August 31. According to the news, Sheikh Hasina's cabinet had taken a decision on August 30 that "three separate ministries, agriculture, commerce and jute, should coordinate work in boosting up the country's agricultural research, especially in rice and jute." Why only these three ministries?This is indeed baffling!

What about the Ministry of Science Information and Communication Technology and the research institutes under this ministry? The National Institute of Biotechnology (NIB) under the ministry of Science and Technology is, as the name implies, the mandated institute for biotechnology and anyone knowledgeable of recent developments in agricultural science will appreciate the role biotechnology has played in such development. According to the objectives of NIB, agricultural biotechnology forms a very big part.

There is a task force on biotechnology which is headed by the prime minister herself. The member secretary of this task force is the minister, science and technology. This task force coordinates and oversees the activities of various technical committees on biotechnology, of which agriculture biotechnology receives the most importance.

Then there are other institutions like the Bangladesh Council for Scientific and Industrial research (BCSIR) and

Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC). They also carry out agriculture research. Why then is the S&T ministry not part of the ministries coordinating agricultural research?

The present government's stand on science and technology appears to be contradictory. They insist on the importance of research in national development but then we do not see a full minister in charge of this ministry. And then they decide to leave the science and technology ministry out of agriculture research coordinating committees.

It is also well known that research and development are carried out primarily at the universities. Therefore, when it comes to research coordination, be it agriculture research or not, the ministry of education cannot be ignored. This ministry has under its fold all the public universities, including the various agriculture universities. Research discoveries made at some of these universities have impacted positively on agricultural development in Bangladesh.

As pointed out earlier science and technology funding to my laboratory at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka had helped to initiate research at the molecular level on jute, which later played a big role in the initiation of jute genome sequencing.

It is hoped that the present government will, for coordination of agri-research, take science and technoogy and the Ministry of Education (or perhaps the University Grants Commission) under its fold. Only then can we expect to see an all-encompassing and substantial development in this area.

Haseena Khan is Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka.