Biotechnology : Needed policy for patronage

Literally biotechnology can be considered as a collective concept dealing with advancement and application of technology for human health and ecology using knowledge and tools from all fields of biological sciences, e.g. biochemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, pharmaceutical science, zoology, botany, medicine, ecology, agro-technology, biophysics etc. Biotechnology is often explained as a tree, root of which is extended in many fields of basic and applied sciences and branches with leaves are grown according to the advancement and application of all those knowledge. From the stem cell research to the genetically modified plants, animal cloning and eventually human cloning, everything has emerged due to the biotechnological advancements. Being concerned with ethical issues and environmental balance, application of some biotechnological achievements for example, human cloning, genetically modified food etc. has been put to debate specially for the last couple of years. Yet many other achievements like recombinant vaccine and other drug development, gene therapy etc. are solely contributing to our welfare.

Academic venture on biotechnology in Bangladesh started in 1995 from Khulna University. Few more public and private universities later have opened similar department. An independent National Biotechnology Institute has also been established. Different other universities and institutes, however, have already been engaged in biotechnological research for agricultural sector from before that. Since biotechnology (BT) by definition is multidisciplinary, we should define the priority for biotechnological research or field of specialisation for the BT graduates, being educated in different universities, based on our national need, that eventually will resolve: (1) the extent and time limit for the development and subsequent application of biotechnological research required for our agricultural, industrial or environmental affairs and (2) the possible scope of career engagement of the BT graduates.

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Most of the pioneer BT graduates of Khulna University have left the country with foreign scholarship for higher education. They may import advance knowledge and skill from developed countries, if they come back. But the others who failed to do so are struggling to find inland job with proper recognition and/or application of their knowledge. This is why our students often ask what would they do after graduation. Many of my acquaintance and well-wishers whom I met as a microbiology student expressed their deep satisfaction: khub valo subject, with an immediate suspicious query: pash korar por ki korba - tobe nishchoi khub shohoje bidesh jaoa jabe. I can imagine students of BT have been facing similar situations. Unlike many microbiologists from Bangladesh who have been awarded with appropriate recognition in USA, Europe and Japan for their contributions, many others are still struggling to get a suitable job in Bangladesh. After all these years, since the first establishment of Microbiology Department at Dhaka University in mid 1970s, microbiologists are yet to achieve their professional recognition in our country.

A proper policy and planning will help the BT graduates to serve and contribute to the biotechnological advancement of their country as well as encourage others, serving elsewhere, to return with skill and advance knowledge. Considering the fact that we are lagging much behind in every sector of biotechnological applications using our indigenous resources, it is better not to give emphasis on all the debatable issues rather focus on many other beneficial aspects. While it is important to research on salt/flood tolerant variety of cereals, it is also important to give more emphasis to combat water borne disease or disease related to malnutrition. Biotechnological research has indeed advanced in these fields even beyond our imagination. When it is a major concern for business monopoly by MNCs for GM crop seeds we may as well think the similar in the field of medicine or nutrition. It may not be difficult to extend further research initiatives on these topics in the existing public institutions, universities or even in private organizations to provide room these graduates and make this venture successful. This in turn will not only reduce the brain drain (if this still is a concern!) but will also strengthen our efforts for biotechnological advancements we need to assure health.

Although we have opened many avenues for biotechnology education, but, as I have mentioned, we have not yet given recognition to those having this knowledge. For example, since BT graduates have been following the obvious nature of multidisciplinary BT curriculum, often their little(?) knowledge of agrotechnology makes them least competent with the graduates of agrotechnology for a position in the respective field. For obvious reasons agrotechnology graduates would be preferred considering that BT graduates do not have comparable knowledge in the same field with only few related courses. Situation gets even worse when the position is advertised with the requirement of university degree in a specific field but not BT, hence BT graduates are unable to apply.

This might at least partially be resolved if their certificates are distinctly marked with the field of specialisation or training, for example, major in microbiology or agrotechnology or pharmaceutical biotechnology or environmental biotechnology etc. This kind of certification will help both the graduates and employers to take decision whether the knowledge and skill of the BT graduates is comparable with their counterparts coming from say agrotechnology. With such a curriculum students would be able to choose additional courses with minimum credit requirements to obtain major(s) during their education. It also will help the students not to become merely a jack of all trades while mastering none.

Many students who have envisioned becoming biotechnologists having advance research skill for highest career optimism ended up with a job offering less than taka five/six thousand. Employment in some NGOs, shrimp or other fisheries, biomedical instruments and/or chemicals suppliers, with few exceptions, are the best examples of such kind, where the nature of their job is not beyond our imagination. If the situation remains unchanged prospective bright students may loose their interest to prefer this field of study for their career and eventually our dream for biotechnological advancement will never be realised.

Our academicians, researchers and policy makers all together should sit and think of a proper policy for the biotechnology education and its utilisation in our country. The sooner the better.

Mohammad Tariqur Rahman, Ph.D. is an ex Assistant Professor, Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering discipline, Khulna University.