Why aren't we innovative at home?

A global index shows a poor status of Bangladesh in innovation despite the country's tradition, which consists in our search for knowledge. When the Bangladesh economy is growing fast, it's surprising to see why the trend of innovation is declining.

A Bangladeshi professor at an Australian university recently wrote that he had witnessed his compatriots performing brilliantly in different fields, be it teaching and research, around the world. "Why aren't the same Bangalis not so successful at home?" asked DrDewanAshrar in an article published in a Bangla daily. He,in this context, referred to Gresham's law that bad money drives good money out of circulatio, to explain the current situation in Bangladesh.

The degradation of values and lack of commitment of the teachers in society are often cited as reasons for decline in innovation. The number of committed teachers like those in Japan is decreasing while the regimentof sycophants and unqualified people is getting bigger, noted the professor at Curtin University. At home, the vice chancellor of a leading university is proud of low price of snacks on the campus.

SB Newton

New Eskaton, Dhaka

[email protected]