IEEE Bangladesh Section along with IEEE BUET Student Branch and Department of EEE, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) arranged an event titled “Fostering R&D Investment in Budgetary Policies through IEEE Engagement” on June 11 at the BUET campus.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Md. Shafiqul Islam, Professor of EEE Department of BUET who inaugurated the event said, in Bangladesh, getting the corporates, industry and academic people together under one roof is an accomplishment by itself as that doesn’t take place often.
Professor Dr. Celia Shahnaz, Chair, IEEE Bangladesh Section and Professor, Dept. of EEE, BUET, delivered the main speech of the event. In her speech, she talked about the role of IEEE BDS in promoting technology throughout Bangladesh and the possible role of industry in flourishing the technological know-how of students, academicians and industry people alike.
She said various events organized under the banner of IEEE BDS could help participants attaining personal glory as well as glory for the organizations and country s/he represents. She also hoped that IEEE Bangladesh section will work as a springboard for the aspiring engineers and students to jump in for new endeavors and innovations.
Speaking at the program, Nafisa ZarrinTasnim, Assistant Engineer, Energypac Engineering Ltd. and Professional Activities Coordinator, IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) Affinity Group Bangladesh Branch said, women’s contribution and their improvement in the industry is an underreported matter.
She brought out some statistics to highlight recent advancement of women in Bangladesh’s technology sector and hoped that these numbers will only see a northward trend.
During the time of panel discussion, Professor Shaikh Anowarul Fattah of EEE Department expressed his concern about the lack of innovation in Industrial Sector of Bangladesh and also lack of any research linkage or academic collaboration between industry and academia.
Mr. Sayeef Rahman, Head of Systems and Strategy, Digi Jadoo Broadband Ltd. also pointed out the on the insufficiency of fund in the budget for education and ICT sector. He also shared his experience as an entrepreneur and how collaboration between industry and academia can help our economy.
As the final panelist Mr. Mohammad Maksudur Rahman Bhuiyan, Additional Director and Chief Engineer, University Grant Commission (UGC) who joined the panel by phone, mentioned some of the new initiatives of the government to fund the research and development in different universities and the need of an umbrella platform that can facilitate faster advancement towards the vision of Digital Bangladesh.
The whole program was hosted by Mr. AzfarAdib, Industrial Activities Co-ordinator, IEEE BDS; Architect, Internet-of-Things(IoT), Grameenphone Ltd. The program was attended by the officials from BASIS, BRAC IT, Grameenphone, Siemens, Robi, Banglalink, Summit Communications, Fibre@home, Link3, Bangabandhu Satellite and also from IEEE Bangladesh Section (BDS) Ex-Com members along with the Head of the Department of EEE, BUET, Dr. Md. Shafiqul Islam.
