An Amazing House

The electronic and print media have shown us how Begum Khaleda Zia breaks down at her Gulshan office as she was evicted from her cantonment residence where she lived nearly four decades. Whether the eviction was legal or not, that is not author’s concern. It is sure that she is shocked at the incident. She loved the house very much as saying goes "My house is my Heaven" and that is quite natural. We have lot to learn from and share on the issues of the house. Almost all the electronic media of the country are now focusing on issues of the house. This is not an ordinary house rather it can be called an Amazing House based on recent reports of the electronic and print media using the key words: Location, Sanction, Possession, Eviction, Emotion, Confusion, Fascination, Limitation, Compassion, Motivation, Temptation, Devastation, Justification, Observation Supervision, Discussion and Negotiation. The words need explanation.

People living on banks of the rivers like the Padma, Meghna, Jamuna, and Modhumoti lose their houses very often due to river erosion. They are evicted not by people but by nature. Normally they do not have second shelter for immediate settlement. They make new shelters just for survival. Now we should realize - how much they are shocked even at mid night while sleeping -- they lose not only their houses but their belongings along with their sleeping kids and lands. Even then they live and survive showing much tolerance and praying to Almighty Allah for their peaceful life. Normally nobody is there to show them sympathy because they have no voice to raise it to the concerned authority. They build their houses at their hard earned money and they do not know where and whom to complain. They accept it as written on their fate. Even if complained or applied for support, very rarely responded by the proper authority. This is the reality faced by the author, his family members and the neighbors since 1950 caused by the river Modhumoti that flows over the districts of Faridpur and Gopalgonj. Similar situations can be observed in Sirajgonj, Chandpur and other districts where river erosion is a fierce.

Tsunami, Sidor and Aila like natural calamities destroy thousands of houses in the coastal regions and the devastation is beyond counts in Bangladesh almost every year. While Sidor attacked the Southern region of Bangladesh, a mother gave birth to a child in a primary school tornado shelter on this day of November 15, 2008. The male child was given the name Sidor to remember the special day. Today is the third birth day of Sidor, the son of Mr. George who is a fisherman. Sidor is now growing up with much hope and expectation of his parents. This is also a wonderful case of tolerance in disaster and devastation in Bangladesh history.

Begum Khaeda Zia and her party could create an excellent example showing extreme tolerance capacities before the Eid festival that could attract much more sympathy and supports from all levels of people of the country.  

A wonderful Apple

Apple is one of the best fruits. It is sweet, delicious and good for health and also acts as preventive medicine, but it is not our national fruit and not even produced in the country. Apples are normally imported in bulk quantities from the countries like India, Australia, China and some African countries. They are sold by the foot path sellers, super markets and BDR shops. The electronic and print media frequently show us how the fruits in the country are poisoned using chemicals. It has become almost a normal matter and business people take it as part of their strategies of making profits. The damaging activities started through the footpath sellers. Now it has stepped to super markets and BDR shops as well.

I bought some apples two months ago from a shop where people buy various kinds of fruits with full confidence of having the best and free from poisonous chemicals. It was summer season and temperature was very high when the apples were bought. One of the apples remained unnoticed behind the books on my reading table. Almost two months later, I found it as fresh as it was bought. Now I keep it on my table and use it as a paper weight. Surprisingly neither any insect nor animal touches it. The ants and cockroaches always move around the apple but they do not try to nibble it.

Interested persons can perform the experiment before taking the apples as delicious food. Instead of throwing them out, the imported apples can be used as paper weight rather than food and perhaps that is the best way to save ourselves from early death when we cannot utilize our scientific knowledge to detect which is real and which is poisonous food.  

The exact definition of silent chemical warfare is not known to me but I guess we are now the victims of that type of war imposed by some unknown enemies who are taking the advantages of negligence and illiteracy of some concerned persons, though we have thousands of science literate citizens in the country. Is it not the time to wake up and protect our new generation from such dangers?

Transferring Private Varsities to Virtual Campus

The private universities in the capital city got permission to run their academic and administrative activities in the temporary campus for five years only. After the sanctioned period, the authorities are supposed to shift temporary campuses to permanent campuses. But the latest information is 90% universities in the capital city have failed to fulfill the conditions. As such they have been given time limit up to September 30, 2010 to shift campuses from residential areas to permanent campuses as per rule.

The private university campuses are located in Dhanmondi, Gulshan and Banani residential areas. There are other educational institutes like schools, colleges, hospitals linked with college etc. that have made lives of people in the areas miserable. For educational institutes, peaceful congenial atmosphere is very important. Considering all the factors, it is advisable that government should take necessary steps to make the areas live-able. Harmful situations in residential areas should no longer be encouraged to exist. There should be an end of it and this is the high time to take right decision to save stakeholders including public from the unwanted hazards.

               

But the pertinent question is where the universities will go in this short span of time and what will happen to the students, faculties and staff? It is undoubtedly critical problem for the government, university authorities, students, teachers, office staff and the guardians. What is the best solution? Technology is the best solution and technology is the most effective tool for solving problems of any magnitude. But to remember; technology cannot work itself, some one needs to command it. 

The Universities all over the world are facing a great deal of change and quite some pressure to review and adapt their services to meet the needs of a changing world. The UNESCO 2009 World Conference on Higher Education expressed the need for the universities to widen access to their services and adopt more innovative approaches.

Without any doubt, the Internet, Open source software and Open Educational Resources (OER) are stimulating reforms of European Higher Education. Policymakers, researchers in education, international organizations and higher education institutions agree that ICT have the potential to stimulate international collaboration and to open the borders of the university. Throughout the last decade, numerous initiatives have been taken to experiment with establishment of ICT-enhanced activities, under various frame works and to varying degrees of success.

Virtual Campus can be one of the best solutions for the private universities in Bangladesh. It is an inspiring, hopeful and complex initiative. There are the diversity of cultural understanding around specific topic of virtual campuses, creativity and range of applications of technology in education, complex and changing landscape, and positive spirit of knowledge sharing.

The concept of Virtual Campus is not very old, dating from 1995. The European Policymakers started to stimulate the analysis of the potential of ICT to enhance learning in higher education. The strategic reports of the European Commission state that “new technologies” are of strategic value to build a “university of the future”. The virtual campus concept is referred to as “a specific format of distance education and on-line learning in which students, teaching staff and university administrative and technical staff mainly meet or communicate through technical links.

In Canada, Athabasca University has created the Canadian Virtual University, a consortium of 11 universities. The California Virtual University (CVU) launched in 1997 with 700 courses. Even in the less developed countries like Kenya, the policymakers have started to experiment with the set up of virtual campuses and universities. One prominent example is African Virtual University (AVU), initially launched in Washington in 1997, later transferred to Nairobi, Kenya in 2002. We   now observe many universities offering courses themselves on a virtual campus basis. The term virtual campus is used to describe international cooperation among universities in many places. The number of the virtual campuses is increasing day by day all over Europe, America, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and Australia.    

The Re-ViCa (Reviewing European Virtual Campus) has been set up in Belgium to redefine “Virtual Campus”. The project makes an inventory and systematically reviews cross-institutional virtual campuses of past decade, currently operational virtual campuses and impact of those initiatives that have closed down or become dormant. Re-Vica will make a review of Virtual Campuses and disseminate its results in Europe. By promoting the best cases of virtual campuses and by comparing the European and Non-European initiatives, guidelines and critical success factors are created that enable European virtual campuses interested to setting up a Virtual Campus to maximize their performances. To ensure success of the depth case studies, special care has been taken in selection of the partnership with respect to virtual campus management experience and a vast range of useful contacts with the international experts.

International Advisory Committee consists of 20 European and Non-European experts in the field of Virtual Campuses, each carefully selected on the basis of their experience. The committee members are invited to comment on the findings of the Re-Vica research during several Key Meetings. The first Key Meeting held on June 11, 2008 in Lisbon, Portugal and the second meeting in December 2008 in Berlin, Germany. The third Key Meeting was held on 8^th June 2009 in the MECC, Maastricht, the Netherlands where the author was awarded M-2009 Fellowship and Honor of International Advisory Committee Membership from Asia region by UNESCO/ICDE and Re-ViCa Secretariat respectively.

Higher education area is a very complex world. Keeping the information in mind, the concerned authorities of the private varsities in Bangladesh are requested to think over the matter of shifting campus very seriously. The concept of setting up virtual campus jointly or separately can be one of the best solutions at the present situation under auspices of the Re-Vica Secretariat in Belgium.

MPs unite over poverty reduction

A very exciting message has come to the national daily Star today ( September 18, 2010) along with the pictures. The present and former speakers are found in the smiling faces along with other MPs of all parties.

The Parliamentarians of the ruling party and the main opposition yesterday pledged to work together to eradicate poverty from the country. Despite differences in opinions, they shall remain united in dealing with poverty eradication. The Opposition Chief Whip has  said, "We are here to show our solidarity with the ruling party to work for building a peaceful and rich country.” He also lauded the speaker's initiatives to make parliament effective through participation of the opposition party lawmakers. Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury has said “We sincerely want to achieve all the goals”. The Speaker has said the country had been waiting for such a day when lawmakers of both the ruling and opposition parties unite for a great purpose. He added the consensus among both the parties has increased hope for national development and progress.

As a senior citizen of the country, I should like to comment; it was an excellent congenial atmosphere of cooperation among the Parliamentarians that can build a self relient, prestigious and peaceful nation of the world. They are united to eradicate poverty from the country in all respcts and expected to fulfil other MDGs through unique cooperation among the MPs of all parties.

It is worth mentioning here at the very friendly atmosphere among the senior responsible politicians that the democratic countries have more than one political parties including Bangladesh. They are divided as the “Party in position” and the “Party in opposition”. The opposition parties are the heart of a democratic government. Good relations among the law makers of any country are counted in the positive ways in international markets.

In case of Bangladesh, 16 party alliance and 4 party alliance are known as the parties in position and opposition respectively. The word Opposition means “Birodhi” that has relevance to division, conlict, violence etc. The meaning of the term “Opposition Party” or “Birodhi Dal” indicates some sorts of “enemeties”. Instead of using the term “Party in Opposition”we can we use friendly terms like “party in cooperation” or other term that can attract the parliamentarians to serve the nation better and make a prestigious nation.

We have elected our MPs expecting the best services from them to the nation. The respected voters are the creaters of MPs and surely they do not want conflicts or violence. As the global citizens, we are already far behind in many respects particularly in science and technology that are the main components of digital Bangladesh. At the present world situations, our first priority should be given to maintain congenial atmospheres at all levels so that not only the MPs alone, but the whole nation can work for the national development in more dedicated ways.   

Science is attractive to politicians in Bangladesh

Advocate Abdul Mannan Khan the State Minister for housing and public works of the Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh was the chief guest in the discussion meeting on the national mourning day 23^rd August 2010 held at the Stamford University Bangladesh. While delivering speech on various aspects on life of the father of the nation Bongobondhu Sheikh Mujib, he raised some examples concerning effects of “SCIENCE” on different substances. He stated all substances can exist in any one of the three forms; solid, liquid or gas. For example, water is a chemical substance with its chemical formula H₂O that contains one Oxygen atom and two Hydrogen atoms. Water is liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on its solid state as ice, and gaseous state as water vapor.  
The interesting point is – the Minister is a Politician and Lawyer but he gave scientific example which is uncommon in the political arena. He also mentioned when water is heated, its temperature increases till it rises to 100 degree celcius, the boiling point of water. Alternatively if water is cooled down, its temperature decreases till it reaches to zero degree celcius when water solidifies to convert to ice.
He wanted to explain the impotance of science in fulfiling the dream of Bangobondhu’s Shonar Bangla leading to digital Bangladesh. The Honorable Minister frankly disclosed, he is not a scientist but he loves science and scientists. This is absolutely positive attitude from the political leaders which is very much important at the moment for the national scientific development to adapt ourselves internationally.

In another occasion held on August 17, 2010 at Bangabhaban, the Honorable President Zillur Rahman called for implementation of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant while he was unveiling the “Sudhasmarak” a memorial book on Dr. MA Wajed Miah. The President said the Rooppur Nuclear Plant was a dream of Dr. MA Wajed Miah who was devoted to developing the country and also building the nation through the development of scientific applications. He added that Dr. Wajed Miah cherished the concept of building a modern Bangladesh through the expansion of science education. The Respected President of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh is also a politician and lawyer but his speech on Nuclear Scientist Dr. Wajed Miah indicates how much he loves science and the scientists as well.

The Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid has recently raised a very important issue on science education in an event held at capital city, Dhaka. According to his statement the young generation is gradually losing interest in science education. He urged all to attract  new generation to science education for building the technology based prosperous nation. His statements are timely, encouraging, inspiring.and clear indication of love towards the science communities. But we have still a long way to go if we want to reap benefits from science and technology. Some interesting comments are here from international experts.

Scientist Roberto Tuda Rivas from Mexico has recently commented on scientific issues for developing countries- more than just adapting science and technology to local conditions, underdeveloped countries need to form their own scientific communities. That is a great challenge and cannot be met unless developed countries provide guidance. In developing countries, the governments think they can create science by decree and commissioning bureaucrats to create "systems of science and technology". Unfortunately, administrators are not science generators.
Mr. Davis Dickson on July 16, 2010 has written on Editorial column of SciDev.Net-- the biggest single factor limiting developing countries' potential for achieving the sustainable economic growth — or even attaining the Millennium Development Goals is their ability to access and apply the fruits of modern science and technology.
This statement is more complex than it sounds. There are many political and economic obstacles to accessing science and technology. And even if access is granted, effective use of science and technology and adaptation of knowledge to local conditions remains challenging. We need to put capacity building that helps Bangladesh use science and technology at the heart of both international aid policies and diplomatic initiatives. We also need to highlight the importance of effective science communication which is crucial for bridging the gap between producing new knowledge and turning that knowledge into either practice or policy.

The President desires implementation of the Nuclear

On August 17, 2010 at Bangabhaban, President Zillur Rahman called for implementation of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant while unveiling the “Sudhasmarak” a memorial book on Dr. MA Wajed Miah. The book was presented by Prof. AAMS Arfin Siddique, President of the Bongabondhu Education and Research Council (BERC) and Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University. Dr.Wajed Miah is the Founder President of BERC established in 2001. The presidium members, general secretary, members of BERC and the contributors of the book were present in the occasion. The contributors are from different disciplines like the teachers, scientists, researchers, politicians and social workers. The articles are mainly on his personal life from birth to death. His academic, political, scientific research and social activities have been very nicely focused in the book. The President Zillur Rahman called him a devoted scientist and he said the Rooppur Nuclear Plant was a dream of Dr. Wajed Miah who was devoted to developing the country and also building the nation through the development of scientific applications. He further added that Dr. Wajed Miah cherished the concept of building a modern Bangladesh through expansion of science education.

The contributors of the Sudhasmarak have raised different aspects of Dr. Wajed Mia in their writings. This author too has a contribution with the title “Realizing importance of a scientist after death”. The glorious parts of his life have been raised in the article.

In 1969, Dr Wajed Mia got the Associate ship of the Italy based International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) and he was engaged in a research project under the world renowned scientist Nobel Laureate Prof. Abdus Salam at ICTP in Trieste, Italy. Dr. Wajed Mia wanted to set up a nuclear power plant at Rooppur, Pabna under guidelines of Prof. Abdus Salam, the founder of ICTP and the third world academy of science (TWAS) but he was not given the opportunity to do so.

A science institute can now be established in the name of Dr. M.A.Wajed Mia, like the Dr. C V Raman University that has been established at Raipur, India to educate the young generations on nuclear science as well as to follow life of the great scientist, Dr. Raman. The author’s direct involvement with Dr. Wajed Mia, and Prof. Shubash Chowbey, the Vice-Chancellor of C V Raman University has enabled him to propose such this project.

Dr. M.A. Wajed Mia is the founder President of the Bongobondhu Sikkha-O-Gobeshona Parishad (Bongobondhu Education and Research Council, BERC) established with the objective of reaching benefits of science education to all, particularly to remote people. Nuclear Scientist Dr. Wajed Mia’s vision was also to establish a sound and sustainable research organization in the country.

An initiative may be taken by the members of the BERC through modification of BERC to BERSC where ‘S’ stands for Science that  means the Bongobondhu Education and Research Council will take shape of the Bongobondhu Education, Research and Science Council (BERSC). To make the issue more transparent, let us take example of UNESCO.  Initially there was no UNESCO in the world rather it was UNECO that means Science was not under consideration even in the developed countries of Europe and America. The delegates meeting at the Institute of Civil Engineers in London on 1st November 1945 were invited to the founding conference of UNECO. The President of the Conference proposed in augural address to put S for Science between the E of education and C for culture. (Ref: World Science Forum 1999). UNECO was thus transformed to UNESCO.

Science for the new generation of Bangladesh

The Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid has recently raised a very important issue on science education while he was speaking on ICT in an event held at capital city, Dhaka. According to his statement the young generation is gradually losing interest in science education. He said it will not be good for the education sector and he urged all to attract new generation to science education for building a technology-based prosperous nation. His statements are timely, encouraging and inspiring.

As an academic scientist, I believe making comments on his statements will not create any negative impression on scientists. The first initiative should be to identify the reasons of lack of interest of new generation in science. Once the reason is identified, the solution becomes easier. The education minister has surely identified the reasons.  

It is worth mentioning that the primary, secondary and higher secondary institutes are mainly based in villages but the higher educational institutes including universities are mostly based in the capital city. The childreen particularly remote children are neglected and disadvantaged. Remoteness is one of the main reasons of lack of interest in science. Frankly speaking, there is none to tell them why to study science and what benefits they might get through science learning. But there are people to oppose any initiative if taken on science education. In taking an initiative on scientific development in one remote village through establishing a technical institute, I have bitter experience in last one decade. This can be termed as a “project of scientific advancement fighting against the society, community, government and almost all” except few young boys and girls. This is a risky project as to fight against all. The most dangerous message -- these activities have no recognition from any corner and it brings no reward even if it is fully successful.

From statement of the respected minister it seems the government has good intention of science-technology development targeting creation of digital Bangladesh. Before going to invest money on science and technology project, the respected minister is requested to have a clear picture of science/technolgy position outside the capital city. Thousands of science literate boys, girls, men and women are anxiously passing their time sitting idle. They don’t know where to utilize their scientific knowledge. Scientists/science literate people are seriously disadvantaged and neglected in the country. Scientific activities have been captured by the non-scientists and false scientists. As a result we have been thrown away from the main street to the drain.

We are lucky - our education minister is a scientifically literate person and SCIENTIST according to his educational background and the definition of a scientist. He can easily identify the gaps and lacks in scientific activities. There are thousands of dedicated and well educated persons with scientific knowledge and experience. They want to utilize their expertise and money for the national, regional and local development in scientific fields. They need a congenial environment and recognition of their works.

Instead of searching foreign aids, it is better to empower young generation with science and technology utilizing national resources. Neither money nor power alone can develop a scientific nation. The national scientific human resources must be given respects if scientific development is expected nation wide.

Recognition of the Scientifically Important Persons (SIP) must work like the magic tool. Everybody needs inspiration, recognition and recommendation for doing the social work. Recognizing the national SIP will cost nothing from the government, but they will buy or achieve unlimited supports and respects from the people particulary who are linked with science and who like science. 

 It is also learnt from his speech that the government is going to take initiative to observe a science education week across the country to encourage the students in science. He has advised the teachers to make their classes interesting so that students would understand science related issues easily. It will also prove a very fruitful initiative if rural schools and colleges given opportunities to show their efficiencies and share experience in the event.  

There is no alternative to improving quality of education to make the new generation competent citizens of the country – it is absolutely right. In doing so, the new generation must be given opportunities to know where they are and what resources they possess. The educational curriculum at different levels from primary to tertiary must be designed based on our national resources and in context of Bangladesh. Maintaining the standard of education must be given priority as advised by the education minister.

The minister hopes the present National Education Policy will help bring a qualitative change in education sector and he said, “We should expand ICT related education for all students”. This is surely the expectation of all academics like the author of this article.

In case of expansion of ICT related education, my suggestion is to take initiative from the remote levels. Though we are dependent on imported technologies in the communication sectors and other scientific areas, we can start using the schools in remote villages as the platforms. The children in remote areas become technologically literate in traditional and cultural ways. They may be called “the traditional science and technology literate human resources”. They pick up modern science and technology knowledge and vocational trade subjects very quickly and they enjoy science learning that the present government wants to establish. The recent SSC result of 100% success has proved the statement of the author. This is the output of 15 years of research on children of a remote village where a primary, secondary and vocational schools worked as the platform to prove the statement.