SDEF: A platform for diploma engineers in SAARC bloc
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
Kazi Nazrul Islam
With a desire to build a stronger platform for the diploma engineers of the world, the Institution of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh (IDEB) wanted to establish organisational relationship among the diploma engineers and the professionals of their equivalent rank from countries outside Bangladesh. So the IDEB delegates toured the erstwhile USSR, North Korea, the UK, America, Japan, India, Europe, Southeast, Middle-East, Far-Eastern countries as well as Africa during 1984 to 1994. During the period, the delegates visited the prominent educational institutions, service organisations and industrial installations, specially those responsible for grooming and educating the mid-level engineers, specially Diploma Engineers or those of their equivalent rank, and employ them. The delegates also studied the multifarious activities, professional involvements and contributions of the diploma engineers to their own countries.
Just after formation of SAARC in 1985, the IDEB took the initiative to form a forum of diploma engineers with the counterparts in SAARC countries to unite under a single umbrella to share the benefits of advancement in science and technology for welfare of the peoples of the region.
In 1995 IDEB invited the diploma engineer leaders of SAARC countries to a national convention, in which a 3-member delegation from Pakistan participate. Indian and Nepali counterparts sent messages expressing their good wishes and willingness to join the convention next time.
In the National Convention of IDEB in 1996, the delegates were from five SAARC member countries, namely India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on May 10 that year in Dhaka by the attending leaders of the Diploma Engineers Associations of SAARC countries, and the SAARC Diploma Engineers Forum (SDEF) was formed having an apex body comprising Mr. Rafiqul Islam Bhuiyan and Mr. A.K.M.A Hamid, the then President & General Secretary of IDEB nominated as Convener and Member Secretary respectively.
In October, 1998 the 1st convention of the SDEF was held at the IDEB Building, Kakrail, Dhaka and the constitution of the SDEF was ratified and adopted. The IDEB members played a vital role in making the convention a success.
The SDEF consists of people having diploma-in-engineering background in the SAARC countries, namely, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.
There are a host of events that deserve to be put on record: The events have taken place during the period since the inception to 2009. These are mostly the continuous efforts the technical sub-committees of the member countries put in the area of science and technology.
However, there are a set of promises outlined for the future with the help and cooperation of the SAARC countries and the SAARC Secretariat as was available. These promises have been mentioned in the report submitted to the SAARC Secretariat. At the concluding stage of the report, the expectations have been given under the title, "SDEF looks ahead".
The report thus delineates the account of major important activities of the SDEF from its inception in 1996 to the end of 2008. The SDEF headquarters is located at 160/A, VIP Road, Kakrail, Dhaka, Bangladesh with its country offices at the respective institutions and associations of the concerned countries.
It is relevantly mentioned that any country joining the SAARC will logically be included as the active member of SDEF. By this time, Afghanistan has already joined the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation-SAARC.
Diploma engineers have gathered under the forum for professional upliftment and solidarity, eventually aiding sustainable socio-economic growth and promoting peace and solidarity among the peoples in the SAARC region.
SAARC principles are aimed at peace, solidarity and progress in the region through activities of "people of all walks of life". It is in this context that diploma engineer associations and institutes unite under the SDEF to improve their professional expertise in terms of requisite standard, efficiency, effectiveness, national development and at the same time SAARC regional principles. Commensurate to these, SDEF complied with all the regulatory conditions and worked for their professional standards, efficiency and rights including national socio-economic development and eventually in the interest of welfare of the teeming millions in the SAARC countries.
Under the broader regional principles of SAARC, it was imperative for SDEF to have a formal status of a body recognised by the SAARC to conduct its activities in a full-fledged manner. Accordingly, SDEF applied for the recognition to SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu, Nepal during 1999-2000. At different stages, the Forum got the necessary guidance and support from the foreign ministries of the SAARC member-countries and the SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu, Nepal.
The then Secretary General Mr. Nihal Rodrigo helped SDEF officials in many ways to have the relevant papers of the application properly prepared and placed and finally made ready for consideration of the members of the SAARC Standing Committee. It was eventually Mr. Q A M A Rahim, who followed his predecessor. Mr. Nihal Rodrigo put allout efforts as the Secretary General of SAARC to make everything ready for accreditation of SDEF as a Recognised Body of SAARC.
It was his personal support instrumental to the final acceptance of SDEF by SAARC Secretariat as a recognised body of the bloc in the 27th SAARC Standing Committee session held in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The writer is Secretary General of the SAARC Diploma Engineers Forum (SDEF) and General Secretary
of the IDEB
With a desire to build a stronger platform for the diploma engineers of the world, the Institution of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh (IDEB) wanted to establish organisational relationship among the diploma engineers and the professionals of their equivalent rank from countries outside Bangladesh. So the IDEB delegates toured the erstwhile USSR, North Korea, the UK, America, Japan, India, Europe, Southeast, Middle-East, Far-Eastern countries as well as Africa during 1984 to 1994. During the period, the delegates visited the prominent educational institutions, service organisations and industrial installations, specially those responsible for grooming and educating the mid-level engineers, specially Diploma Engineers or those of their equivalent rank, and employ them. The delegates also studied the multifarious activities, professional involvements and contributions of the diploma engineers to their own countries.
Just after formation of SAARC in 1985, the IDEB took the initiative to form a forum of diploma engineers with the counterparts in SAARC countries to unite under a single umbrella to share the benefits of advancement in science and technology for welfare of the peoples of the region.
In 1995 IDEB invited the diploma engineer leaders of SAARC countries to a national convention, in which a 3-member delegation from Pakistan participate. Indian and Nepali counterparts sent messages expressing their good wishes and willingness to join the convention next time.
In the National Convention of IDEB in 1996, the delegates were from five SAARC member countries, namely India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on May 10 that year in Dhaka by the attending leaders of the Diploma Engineers Associations of SAARC countries, and the SAARC Diploma Engineers Forum (SDEF) was formed having an apex body comprising Mr. Rafiqul Islam Bhuiyan and Mr. A.K.M.A Hamid, the then President & General Secretary of IDEB nominated as Convener and Member Secretary respectively.
In October, 1998 the 1st convention of the SDEF was held at the IDEB Building, Kakrail, Dhaka and the constitution of the SDEF was ratified and adopted. The IDEB members played a vital role in making the convention a success.
The SDEF consists of people having diploma-in-engineering background in the SAARC countries, namely, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.
There are a host of events that deserve to be put on record: The events have taken place during the period since the inception to 2009. These are mostly the continuous efforts the technical sub-committees of the member countries put in the area of science and technology.
However, there are a set of promises outlined for the future with the help and cooperation of the SAARC countries and the SAARC Secretariat as was available. These promises have been mentioned in the report submitted to the SAARC Secretariat. At the concluding stage of the report, the expectations have been given under the title, "SDEF looks ahead".
The report thus delineates the account of major important activities of the SDEF from its inception in 1996 to the end of 2008. The SDEF headquarters is located at 160/A, VIP Road, Kakrail, Dhaka, Bangladesh with its country offices at the respective institutions and associations of the concerned countries.
It is relevantly mentioned that any country joining the SAARC will logically be included as the active member of SDEF. By this time, Afghanistan has already joined the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation-SAARC.
Diploma engineers have gathered under the forum for professional upliftment and solidarity, eventually aiding sustainable socio-economic growth and promoting peace and solidarity among the peoples in the SAARC region.
SAARC principles are aimed at peace, solidarity and progress in the region through activities of "people of all walks of life". It is in this context that diploma engineer associations and institutes unite under the SDEF to improve their professional expertise in terms of requisite standard, efficiency, effectiveness, national development and at the same time SAARC regional principles. Commensurate to these, SDEF complied with all the regulatory conditions and worked for their professional standards, efficiency and rights including national socio-economic development and eventually in the interest of welfare of the teeming millions in the SAARC countries.
Under the broader regional principles of SAARC, it was imperative for SDEF to have a formal status of a body recognised by the SAARC to conduct its activities in a full-fledged manner. Accordingly, SDEF applied for the recognition to SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu, Nepal during 1999-2000. At different stages, the Forum got the necessary guidance and support from the foreign ministries of the SAARC member-countries and the SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu, Nepal.
The then Secretary General Mr. Nihal Rodrigo helped SDEF officials in many ways to have the relevant papers of the application properly prepared and placed and finally made ready for consideration of the members of the SAARC Standing Committee. It was eventually Mr. Q A M A Rahim, who followed his predecessor. Mr. Nihal Rodrigo put allout efforts as the Secretary General of SAARC to make everything ready for accreditation of SDEF as a Recognised Body of SAARC.
It was his personal support instrumental to the final acceptance of SDEF by SAARC Secretariat as a recognised body of the bloc in the 27th SAARC Standing Committee session held in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The writer is Secretary General of the SAARC Diploma Engineers Forum (SDEF) and General Secretary
of the IDEB