Lack of focus on innovation

Despite various social challenges including ones relating to education, the Bangladesh people often offer low-cost solution to major problems and difficulties. Oral saline is one such solution that has saved millions of lives in Bangladesh and in Africa. Bangladeshi farmers have used shallow pump engines made in Japan or China to add speed to the country boats and change commercial life of rural Bangladesh at a cost-effective manner. Biogas is a technology, which can make family life easier, contributing to maintaining sustainable environment. Bags made up of jute should have been another Bangladeshi success, had it been widely used.

However, we are hardly serious about innovation through institutional research. The poor allocations for research at our universities show the level of focus on innovation while government institutions are allegedly not dedicated to serious research that can bring fruits. Research and innovation are necessary to utilise the potential of our youth and to emerge as a self-reliant nation.

Naymur Rahman

East West University, Dhaka