Refocusing Higher Education in Bangladesh

Universities in Bangladesh need to refocus their concept of teaching and learning. The Problem-based or project based approach to teaching and learning has become crucial as against former way of trying to pump knowledge and skills into learners from the lecturer's old notes and materials. University students should be encouraged to discover information by themselves with the lecturers as the facilitator. The information to be discovered should aim at solving real life societal problems and must add up to the students’ knowledge. Doing so would encourage creative thinking and innovation among the learners and at the same time address workplace challenges and aim at solving problems. This approach is working very well in most Universities of the world that have adopted the system, but this is not happening in Bangladesh.

For the new generation we need at least one sound and sustainable University in the country. In addition to economy, infrastructure, leadership and dedicated staff members, there is a great need for basic educational competence among the professors and other teaching staff. Not only theories, but practical expertise using technology, media and communication is also very important.

The main problem so far identified in both the public and private universities is the management and governance which prevents any possibility of institutionalization or re-organization. There is an urgent need to approach transformation to modern systems at different levels such as the top (management), in the middle (educators) and the bottom (learners). In the universities, constant supply of Electricity, Connectivity and Access to information must get top priorities. In addition to that an Effective University Leadership is urgently needed at the present crisis when both the management and governance are going to lose their moralities. We should focus on the future we dream of, rather than try to analyse the problems we have. It is true that there is a fundamental problem within the leadership of most Universities but this is nothing but lack of knowledge on how to transform their universities to the next level. This is not a very difficult task to overcome. The chairman or head of the respective department knows the lacks in her/his department. He can play very important role to shape his department. Connecting them all together will bring tremendous result to the academic atmosphere of the university.

At the present situation of higher education in Bangladesh, the effective steps should be taken for its development based on the following issues. Capacity development: Senior academics have earned knowledge and experience and they don't need to prove their academic credentials to anyone so they have more time and energy to focus on improving teaching. Young academics have some familiarity with a range of technologies but often face immense pressures because they want to teach lots of new things that are emerging out every day. They try to spend time to improving their courses.

What is the Vision of Universities for the next generation in Bangladesh? How the universities for new generation will look like? We would like to see all the universities in Bangladesh as places for real learning and real research, where innovative ideas will emerge giving birth to cutting edge solutions to national problems. University will be a platform where academics from other universities all over the world would love to collaborate with, visit and exchange ideas, knowledge and skills with their colleagues in Bangladesh. There will not be any kind of strike action by lecturers, non academic staff or students over dissatisfying working conditions. It is expected to be a place where ground breaking research ideas would have emerged in the areas of energy, environment, science, technology, education, agriculture and community developments. The best brains that left the country for lack of opportunities will come back and join the universities in Bangladesh where prosperity, good education, good governance, tolerance of one another will be the main attraction. 

The University will no longer be confined to a given geographical area but it will be like a place, forum, centre, club or institution where those who share a love for learning come together to utilize resources and share experiences.  The University education will be an opportunity and not an obligation. There is no end to it even if one is already qualified or educated. Despite all this, the University shall be committed to excellence in study, teaching, research and management. It will provide academic freedom for researchers and teachers as well as equal opportunity in education and employment. The University should be efficient in use of resources and strive to provide universal access to education. The University should aspire to promote intellectual and social development as well.

Minerals concerning disasters to science poor nations

Beijing based Titanium Company has collected an article written on utilization of mineral resources of Bangladesh. The article was published recently in a national daily. Chinese Company has explained the reasons of their interests in solid minerals that are available in huge quantities in the forms of compounds like Rutile, Ilmenite, Zircon etc. at different locations of Bangladesh. The email has described the most recent effective developments in areas of applications of Titanium all over the world.                                                          

For the past several centuries, the modern world has been organized around the natural resources, such as land, fossil fuels, minerals and heavy industry. But the most valuable resource of the 21^st century is the scientific knowledge along with the educated and well trained people who can take advantage of that knowledge said Bruce Alberts, President of the National Academy of Science, Washington, DC in last World Science Conference. He said physical resources are inherently limited in the world but knowledge is unlimited and that can be reproduced at virtually no cost.

Here is the bright example of a national disaster created mostly due to lack of science knowledge and conflicting attitudes of the citizens of the concerned country:

In the 21st century some of the elegant symbols of modernity like smart phones, laptops and digital cameras are built from minerals available in the scientifically knowledge poor country like Congo in the central Africa: A report has recently been published in the New York Times on Mineral Wars in Congo and the reporter has mentioned that he has never reported on a war more barbaric than Congo’s. He has seen the women who have been mutilated, the children who have been forced to eat their parents’ flesh and the girls who have been subjected to rapes that destroyed their insides. But the Warlords meet expenses of war in part through the sale of mineral ores containing tantalum, tungsten, tin and gold. Tantalum collected from Congo is used to make electrical capacitors that go into phones, computers and gaming devices. Electronics manufacturers have tried to hide this secrecy and they want the people should look at their nice products and enjoy.

Fortunately, there’s now a grass-roots movement pressuring companies to keep conflict minerals out of high-tech supply chains. Using Facebook and YouTube, the activists are harassing companies like Apple, Intel and Research in Motion to get them to lean on their suppliers and ensure the use of Australian tantalum rather than tantalum peddled by the Congolese militia. The war had claimed 5.4 million deaths as of April 2007, according to a study by the International Rescue Committee.

What is next? Is there a magic-bullet solution to peace in Congo? ---   This is one of the drivers of the conflict in the central African country Congo. Some suggest the economics of the war should be addressed to resolve it. The Obama administration can play an active role putting more pressure on Rwanda to play a constructive role. Impeding trade in the conflict minerals is also a cause of the Congo puzzle, and because of public pressure, a group of companies led by Intel and Motorola is now developing a process to audit the origins of Tantalum in supply chains. This is undoubtedly a positive signal for Congo.

The other good news is ---the grass-roots movement is bringing some positive impacts. Some big companies are convinced to buy conflict free minerals Tantalum and Titanium. The two minerals have similarities in names and both are solid minerals. Tantalum is found in Congo, Africa but Titanium is available in Bangladesh, Asia.

Bangladesh is rich in natural as well as mineral resources like Gas, Zircon, Garnet etc. They are our national but God gifted resources. We want to utilize them fully using own strategies. We don’t want to be exploited by others and we must not be recognized as the citizens of a conflicting country like Congo. We have experience and we have expertise

Some of the world’s most brutal militias may be undercut simply by making it clear to electronics manufacturers that we don’t want our beloved gadgets to enrich the gunmen. No phone or tablet computer can be considered effective if it may be helping perpetuate one of the most brutal wars on the planet. This is a good lesson for all living in the planet.

Now we can come to the conclusion that the fruits of science and technology have not significantly benefited the majority of human beings living in the Third World. This type of asymmetry in distribution of wealth, safety and comfort has increased in recent times. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is also bringing new risks affecting not only fundamental individual rights such as right to privacy, but also the safety of trade and national security itself in the face of a growing potential for war: the cyber war.

We must ensure that scientists everywhere on the planet are able to contribute effectively to solve problems that will require all of the efforts we can muster. Let adjust ourselves in that way to utilize our national minerals as the best source of peace, not conflict.

Importance of Transport Technology

Walking along the street of Dhaka city is a very risky and difficult task particularly for the children and elderly people. The condition was not so bad even ten years back. There are lots of reasons behind for coming to this position. But the most important of all is the over-looking of transport technology. It is claimed by the global people that we are now living in a civilized world. We will have to follow the rest of the world people if we want to claim ourselves as the global citizens or even human beings. 

Technology is changing the planet at the breathing speed. The transport technology is also not remaining far behind. We observe almost everyday the new modeled transport vehicles are coming to the city but the roads and the transport technology knowledge are not developing in that speed. Who are driving those costly cars and heavy vehicles?

The reality is -- a larger percentage of drivers are totally illiterate. But the new vehicles are coming with modern technology parts and components. Most of the new vehicles are electronically controlled and equipped with computerized systems that need the skilled operators/drivers. To become an efficient driver of the present world, the person should have driving as well as technical skills. The cars or other vehicles are not manufactured here. We are just importing the large and small vehicles that are designed in context of the respective countries. It is very important to note that we are importing not only the luxury cars but the serious troubles as well at the cost of huge foreign currencies. The troubles are due to the lack of awareness of operation. Each new model car has its own maintenance strategies. Who cares for that?

Driving and maintenance are very closely related activities. The combination of both the skills gives unique results. In order to develop skills in both sides, the person needs to be educated with basic transport technology knowledge. Safe driving is not an easy task. An educated driver tries to remain in safe side using his talent, skill and knowledge. But the drug addicted illiterate driver does not care for anything. If a survey is conducted, we find that most accidents are the results of illiteracy and arrogance of the drivers in the society.

One of the best solutions to overcome this culture of killing the innocent people is to train the drivers on basic transport technology. The courses of training on transport technology must be based on Bangladesh context including the cultures and climate.

We believe it is our national needs and not my personal interest. The solution at this stage is not that difficult. Just to look on broader scales by some people might bring the desired success for the nation. Education must be given top priority in achieving goals.

The courses of transport technology, satellite technology and community radios should be immediately included in the under graduate courses of the private and public universities that offer science and technology courses. The number of accidents will surely diminish with the increase of number of persons with transport technology knowledge and skills.

Utilization of National Resources of Bangladesh

Hakikur Rahman has raised an important issue concerning the increase of the price of natural gas in his write up in the Bytesforall. Natural gas is our national mineral resource and it is one of the best gifts of God. Not only the natural gas, there are other mineral resources like Zircon, Ilmenite, Rutile, Garnet etc. in the country. Almighty Allah has bestowed upon us huge natural resources that make others jealous. HE has given us the knowledge to utilize them in right ways.

The world is now divided into two parts; they are the haves and the have-nots. We are in the first group. We have every thing but we are not utilizing our knowledge in the right ways. We should focus our eyes in the right direction. We should know the technology to utilize our valuable resources fully for national development. There is no magic tool to make a nation rich in the twinkle of an eye. The country men need to make it happen. The best way is to utilize resources in the right and intelligent way. Any nation or country that practices the formula becomes rich and the rest who are not able to do so remain poor.

It is written in many geological survey books that a country or a nation can no longer remain poor if it has even only one mineral resource and he can utilize the resource tactfully and intelligently. We have not only one; we have several mineral resources. Still we are poor. Who is responsible for that? The answer is known to many of us. We have shut down our mouth and we have promised we will tolerate everything silently. That is the main problem and the barrier in national development.

Increasing the prices of natural (God gifted) gas is not a very difficult task. Just the concerned authority will serve a notice mentioning that the price of natural gas will be double from the morning of Sunday or Monday and we will follow the instructions like the good boys in the class room. We will never ask why we are increasing the prices of the God gifted resource. Is it justified? Can't we control the misuse of gas as mentioned by Hakikur Rahman? Which one is important? – to stop misuse or to increase prices?  The answer is -- the one that is comfortable and related to exercise of power. This type of practice is going on from long time. Like many developing countries, the Government also changes here and the new faces come in power but the system remains the same.

This is the time to realize that the global citizens are moving in the speed of light. We are the citizens of an independent country that we won in 1971 through a historic liberation movement. We have a glorious history of liberation, we have unlimited natural including mineral resources and we have very talented human resources. We are capable enough to utilize our own resources. Some of our respected scientists have recently given the proof of my statement through a joint and collaborative research on our natural resource jute which is known as the golden fiber of Bangladesh. Time has come to utilize our brain in right direction in right purposes. Thanks everybody for giving their valuable time.

Science around us

Everyday once or twice, the driver goes to the CNG stations to fill up the cylinder of my private car. Surprisingly, it is observed he avoids some CNG filling stations though the stations are nearer to my residence. When he was asked the reasons of avoiding those stations, he replied the gases in those stations are not good. His statements raised my curiosity about the CNG stations and asked the other drivers serving the same building. They replied almost in the same language. After lots of questions and answers, it came out that those filling stations provide gas along with air. As a result, the vehicle runs less distance with the gas filled from those stations in comparison to the good ones, though the amount charged are same. The transport drivers in our country are not scientifically literate and they are not supposed to know scientific formulas or rules and regulations. But there are many owners of private cars and other transport vehicles in the city who are scientifically literate, qualified and experienced. They might have heard this type of complains from their drivers too. Without sufficient proof, no body should be blamed and that is also not my purpose of writing this article. As an academic scientist and science connect ambassador (United Nations University), I should not remain far from scientific complexities or scientific ignorance that causes disasters or accidents every day.

It is my assumption that at least five million people who have passed higher secondary with physics or obtained diploma in science trades are aware of laws of gas particularly the Charles’s and Boyle’s laws. The scientifically literate persons must agree that those laws are applied to the CNG filling stations not only in Bangladesh but all over the world. According to Charles’s law, pressure remaining constant, the volume of a given mass of gas increases or decreases by the same factor as absolute temperature (i.e. gas expands as temperature increases) and the Boyle’s law states for a fixed amount of gas kept at a fixed temperature, pressure (P) and Volume (V) are inversely proportional (that means while one increases, the other decreases). From the description it is clear that there are lots of scopes to cheat the customers in a society where most people with scientific skills and knowledge remain silent in all respects. To overcome this type of problems, not only the government but scientifically conscious citizens should come up and take responsibilities. Gas is an important national mineral no doubt but a CNG station can create disaster in the region at any moment if handled carelessly and inefficiently. The whole system is based on science and technology. As such a scientific environment including strong protection arrangement must be maintained in the stations and its surrounding areas for the national and social safeties.
Normally the drivers in our country are illiterate or poorly literate. They don’t understand the scientific laws but they are given the most dangerous responsibilities, even more than a justice who gives physical punishment to the culprits or hang them on specific ground. But the drivers kill the innocent people due mainly to personal and social ignorance. But they are not severely punished like the other killers of human beings.

It is observed that most of the accidents occur due to scientific ignorance of the drivers of the heavy vehicles like the loaded trucks or bus. When a man or a woman fall in front of a speedy truck, according to Newton’s laws of motion, the momentum MV (product of mass M and velocity V) of the moving vehicle become very large. In the circumstances, it becomes impossible for the driver to stop the heavy vehicle immediately on the spot. In most of such cases the driver fails to stop the vehicle in one or two meters distance. As a result, not only the man in front dies, but the passengers inside the vehicle die too. If the scientific reasons of such accidents are explained to the drivers, passengers and common people who cross the roads without care and fear, the percentage of accidents will come down to a significant number. The authority concerned may show interest on the issue.

Bottom-up Transparency for Ensuring Accountability

Ensuring accountability to the citizens is the prime responsibility of the government of an independent country if they want to be democratic. Bangladesh is an independent country but it has to go a long way to become fully democratic and to ensure accountability to the people particularly remote people who had cast vote for forming the government. In order to do that the government in power will need to change traditional systems and adopt the timely new strategies. Accountability needs "bottom-up transparency" – suggested by the strategic researchers in an international event held recently in USA. Many governments in developing countries do not have the capacity for gathering data that they could then publish for the citizens to hold them accountable. Just supporting government capacity may not be the only and not even the most efficient solution: The citizens also have many responsibilities and they can provide information on water, health, and education. Mobile phones can be used in the regions where Internet is not prevalent. The information that is needed to hold the government accountable should be gathered bottom-up, by those that eventually use it to hold government accountable. The present situation shows not only the government's inability to provide access to information, but also their unwillingness.

Information needs to be organized. Let us suppose we are looking for information on a specific topic like donor's spending on health interventions in the country. If we google the relevant search terms – we will get a long list of results. Hundreds of websites in the globe provide snippets of information, and not only does so, every donor organization has its own website and every single project also has individual websites. The single project uses different terminology, and it has its data in different formats. All those information can be collected at the cost of huge money and time. But people need central information source, some sort of data gateway that organizes the relevant information and puts it all into one place. It is not feasible for the citizens to dig their way through the data chaos to finally get a more or less comprehensive picture of what is going on, which can then be the basis for holding public officials accountable. The NGOs and the donor organizations working in a given region on similar topics could collaborate on providing information gateways for the sake of enabling citizens to demand the better quality public services.

Information needs context. Providing highly technical data on its own is unlikely to help citizens with anything. In order for people to understand information on the government services, the information needs to be put into context. Accountability is only effective if the citizens have means to enforce their demands on the state. Information alone will not guarantee accountability. Citizens need mechanisms that allow them to not only assess the quality of public services, but to also do something about deficiencies.

Accountability needs a Community of Practice. It's not a big science like rocket science that it's not efficient if a lot of people work on the same issues without talking to each other. A community of practice for accountability is needed not only to focus efforts to strengthen citizens, but also to provide the organization of information and the context for it. There is a mountain of expertise here and there. We would all benefit from exchange.

Accountability needs multiple platforms. Putting all the data on the Internet, even if it is on a central gateway, will still exclude most of those that really need the information. The digital divide is a fact and it does not seem likely that broadband will pervade Bangladesh any time soon - maybe it never will. That brings other ICT on the stage, mobile phones. But accountability needs a multi-platform approach: Access to information needs to be provided through all relevant communication channels. That may include Internet, mobile phones, community radio recently licensed in Bangladesh and the local priests.

Negligence in Science Creates Disasters

From the latest report received from the electronic media at 9 PM today (June 4, 2010), we came to know that the total number of deaths is 117 and the injured are above 200, many being seriously injured. It is a huge and unprecedented disaster caused mainly due to negligence of scientific rules and regulations. As shown in the broadcasting electronic media, there were huge chemicals in the ground floor of the building and also a defective step-down transformer. Now the common question is “How and why it happened”? The citizens of a democratic country have every right to ask the questions. Who is responsible for answering the questions? That’s also important.

The purpose of writing this article is not to blame any body but to raise the issue to the conscious citizens of the country and let them know how efficiently and effectively, this type of disasters could be avoided. At the age of science and technology we cannot move even one step without electricity and the chemicals are also important as our daily needs.

Electricity and chemicals are two scientific terms. Chemicals are visible in many forms and colors but electricity is not visible. Chemicals are the contents of Chemistry and electricity is the content of Physics. Chemistry and Physics are two science subjects taught in schools, colleges and universities. School students are given basic ideas. The advanced courses on the subjects are taught in higher classes. There are lacs of students and citizens in the country with basic and advanced knowledge in electricity generation and proper use of chemicals. Many with Ph.D degrees are helpless and they don’t have scopes to utilize their expertise in the national needs related to science and technology.

In teaching chemistry, the physical and chemical properties of the compounds are taught. When the chemicals are imported from foreign countries, the physical characteristics and properties are clearly written on the packet or on top of the boxes with some red warnings such as to keep away from fire – “Highly Flame-able”. Or keep them at temperature below thirty degree Celsius. The problems in the country are – who cares for the warnings or the rules and regulations? As per reports from different corners, chemicals business in the country has proved to be one of the easiest ways of making money in the shortest time. Because of its uncontrolled use in various ways such as acid throw, eye ointments, fish and fruits poisoning, the concerned people make money quickly selling their conscience. The citizens whatever be their background, may be a chemist or a university teacher have very little importance in the social activities. Regarding electricity supply, citizens know almost nothing till a disaster like this one happens in the Mahalla.      

The recent killing of a brilliant student of BUET by a bus driver indicates ignorance of the whole nation. Most of the accidents occur due to lack of scientific awareness among the drivers and the people who cross the road. The transport vehicles like bus, truck, taxi, private cars etc. are the results or outputs of scientific and technological innovations. Various kind of scientific and electronic devices have so far been invented in the world. They are mostly used for making life comfortable and reliable.

Any transport vehicle, small or big in size carries an engine and other machines. The industries and factories also use different types of engines, machines and instruments. The main difference between the two categories is; one is mobile and the other is fixed. For operating any machine, the operators need a short or a long training depending on complexities and importance of the machines and engines. Driving a car, bus or truck is riskier than running any fixed machine. A driver needs to keep his eyes, legs and hands fully active and balanced. Accident may occur any time if an organ of the driver fails to work. As such a driver should have technical knowledge about the engine and other parts of the car at least on how it works. They must have basic education. Ignorance and negligence are the main reasons of most of the accidents that we observe everyday.

Unfortunately, there are hundreds of drivers in the city who are absolutely illiterate. It is a very surprising matter how they manage to get the licenses of killing the brilliant student of BUET? Thousands of young boys with basic knowledge of science in SSC and HSC are unemployed. Many of them are educated in the vocational schools in relevant subjects and they don’t know where to sell or utilize their skills or expertise in the country. Having no information to them of such scopes, a significant number of boys with SSC vocational certificates are sold in the local markets as slaves/labors but they do not get additional amounts for their academic knowledge in Chemistry, Physics, Electricity, Electronics, Civil Construction, Building maintenance, Textile engineering and many other trades. The following example will make things clear to everybody.

Rubel was cutting paddy as a purchased slave/labor in the remote village-Arpara of Gopalgonj district while other students of his class were enjoying for unique results of 100% success in the SSC vocational examinations at Khairunnessa.Memorial Vocational School at village–Ikrail of Alfadanga in Faridpur district. He has obtained “A-grade“ in textile engineering discipline but he got the message from one of his class mates through mobile correspondence at the end of the day after finishing his day’s works. He studied Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and the trade subjects of textile engineering like the ones studying at famous schools in the capital city. This time 31 students appeared at the SSC vocational examinations in civil engineering, textile engineering and the building maintenance under the Bangladesh Technical Education Board (BTEB) held in March 2010 and all of them succeeded with excellent result, the minimum result being A.

As soon as his board examination was over, Rubel was sold in weekly Bhatiapara bazar as a labor/slave as usual. Every Friday, he is sold to different land lords in different areas of the country. This is normal for many students of the school (not included in MPO). In every vacation, they are sold for money and they earn some amount that supports their family and education costs. Like many others, Rubel does not know what he will do with this result. What future is waiting for him? He simply finds darkness all around. When he is sold in the market, he gets the same amount and no further consideration for his academic records with excellent result.