Innovation is not a strong point of the people here. Even when cholera, malaria, small pox and other such diseases broke out in epidemic forms, scientific research was carried out by dedicated people in laboratories in western countries. Credit goes, in one of the rare cases, to a Bangalee named Dr Upendranath Brahmachari for his seminal discovery of an antidote, Urea Stibamine, to Kala-azar (Assam fever or black fever). His is the only name that deserves to be mentioned alongside venerable researchers like Dr Edward Genner and Ronald Ross credited with the development of vaccine for small pox and discovery of the vector of malaria respectively. Discoveries and inventions like these have spared the humanity of a lot of sufferings and in some cases mass extinction of people across a wide swathe of the tropical regions of the planet in particular.
Human civilisation devoted its energy more in self preservation immediately after the industrial revolution and went for a series of inventions and innovations in order to ease life and conquer diseases. But the more sophisticated research and experiments became the greater the emphasis on development of weapons of mass destruction. Attempt to develop even high performance indigenous guns and other sophisticated war machines has also been non-existent in this land. All people here can make are crude bombs and pistols -not advanced type of revolver.
True, people in this part of the world came slowly to realise that there is no alternative to taking care of themselves and the exercise has to be in peaceful manner. So immediately after the country's independence, the concentration was on developing high yielding varieties of paddy. In that task, Bangladesh has earned an enviable reputation. Here is a success story touching the lives of people at the grass-roots level -one that can rival any in the world. But this has been more a collective effort than individual research or experimental breakthroughs. People like Maqsudul Alam, who died recently, carried the legacy of individual brilliance in an area of life science that has the capacity to change lives and livelihoods, farming and agro-economy.
Even a man of his calibre could not accomplish the monumental task he accomplished for the country by sequencing genome of jute and the parasite responsible for a widespread disease of the plant had there not been enough official patronage. Now this is very important for nurturing talents. Admittedly, this country cannot provide the required facilities for advanced and highly sophisticated research and experiments. The incumbent prime minister of the country took personal initiative so that Dr Maqsudul Alam and his research team got the laboratory they needed. The scientist got what he ordered.
In recent times a number of people -some of them students - inventive enough but not highly educated under the academic system have demonstrated their raw talents by indigenously developing machines or technologies, some of which even outperform their imported counterparts. Sadly, they have received little official patronage. What goes, furthermore, in their favour is that those machines or appliances are far cheaper than the imported ones. This list of such tools and machines includes agricultural mowers, planters, ploughs to motor car to computer devices capable of doing wonder works.
The latest addition to the list of such gadgets or items is an anti-petrol bomb technology developed by Faruk bin Hossain now working at the Bangladesh Krishi Gabeshona Institute (Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute). Driven by an overpowering urge to help the distressed humanity, doctors and scientists earlier used to respond against scourge of Nature. Today, gifted with a highly sensitive and alert mind, Faruk has been developing various devices in order to help his countrymen in crisis.
He has to his credit a number of inventions so far. He developed the technology of sucking oil spilled accidentally in river or sea water. Another of his inventions concerns the technology to locate underwater sunken ship, launch or boat. Yet another of his technologies is used for detecting the humidity of soil and most popular technology of his is the technology to test formalin costing just Tk 1.00 (one). Then he also developed an earthen fridge for keeping vegetables and fruits fresh in the most hygienic condition possible.
This young scientist has responded admirably to counter the danger from petrol bombs. His technology is most likely to be sound enough for the purpose. First it takes care of the window glass of a bus. The sides of window glasses have to be laminated with three-inch transparent scotch tape in order to prevent glass from breaking into pieces when hit by a petrol bomb. The story carried in a Bangla-language contemporary further claims that even if the glass is broken, its splinters will not get inside. But the most effective defence against petrol and fire constitutes in a screen made of thin cloth used for varnishing. A thin layer of a mixture of chalk and gum has to be applied on the cloth and then dried. The screen will be a high absorbent and most of the petrol or octane will get soaked by the screen. Chalk powder here acts as a fire extinguisher because carbonate momentarily produces carbon mono-oxide or carbon-di-oxide to do the trick.
There is nothing to be nervous about the cost. Only Tk 400-500 will suffice for creating such a defence against petrol bombs in a large bus. Well, the scientist has not claimed, it can contain cent per cent damage but at least 70 per cent damage can be prevented. Surprisingly, the young scientist's amazing feat has received little publicity. Why not test his technology and be sure about his claim? If it works, let the technology be introduced immediately in order to save life and transports.
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