Three-Day International Conference Begins at Sylhet Agricultural University with 350 Scientists from 12 Countries
The fifth international conference of the Bangladesh Society of Plant Science and Technology (BSPST) has begun at Sylhet Agricultural University. Around 350 registered scientists, researchers, teachers, academics and professionals from 12 countries, including Bangladesh, are taking part in the conference on sustainable agriculture, advances in plant science and new innovations in agricultural technology.
The conference was inaugurated on Thursday (29 October) at 9:30am at the university's central auditorium under the theme 'Plant Science and Technology for Sustainable Agriculture: Prospects and Challenges'. Jointly organised by the BSPST and the university's Faculty of Agriculture, the conference runs for three days, from 29 to 31 October.
The inaugural session was presided over by BSPST President and Professor of Crop Botany at Gazipur Agricultural University, Dr Md Abdul Baset Mia. Professor Dr Masuma Habib, a member of the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh, attended as chief guest. The programme began with recitation from holy scriptures.
In her speech, Professor Dr Masuma Habib said sustainable agriculture does not only mean producing more, but producing better — crops that can withstand drought, salinity and floods. At the centre of all this, she said, is plant science and technology, and science must lead the way from the seed to the field and from the laboratory to the farmer.
She added that a variety that stays only in the laboratory feeds no one. Calling for stronger bridges between universities, research institutes, the Department of Agricultural Extension and the private sector so that innovations reach farmers quickly, she told the young researchers and students present that they are not merely participants but the future of plant science in Bangladesh, and urged them never to forget the farmer at the end of their research.
Sylhet Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Safi Ullah Majumdar spoke at the event as chief patron. He said hosting the fifth international conference on sustainable agriculture and plant science at the university was a matter of great pride, and expressed hope that the conference would create an important platform for knowledge exchange and exploration of new technologies to address the global challenges of climate change, environmental degradation and food security.
In his speech as special guest, Habiganj Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor Dr Md Mozammel Haque said today's agriculture faces unprecedented challenges, with declining natural resources, rising demand for food and various environmental pressures threatening the sustainability of agricultural production worldwide. For countries like Bangladesh, he said, innovative and science-based solutions are needed to meet these challenges.
The keynote paper was presented by Dr Amir Hamzah Ahmad Ghazali, Dean of the School of Biological Sciences at Universiti Sains Malaysia. The welcome address was given by BSPST General Secretary and Professor of Crop Botany at Bangladesh Agricultural University, Dr Md Alamgir Hossain, while Professor Dr Md Shahidul Islam, Dean of the university's Faculty of Agriculture, offered the vote of thanks.
The organisers said a total of 265 scientific papers are scheduled to be presented across the conference's 20 technical sessions, through oral, poster and virtual presentations, alongside invited talks and scientific discussions. The role of plant science in ensuring food security, tackling the impacts of climate change, conserving biodiversity and ensuring sustainable use of natural resources is receiving special importance at the conference.
Founded in 2020, the BSPST works to advance plant-related research, exchange academic knowledge and experience, increase mutual cooperation and spread scientific knowledge. The society also contributes to the development of plant science by organising national and international conferences, and the fifth international conference has been arranged as part of that continuity.
To encourage scientific excellence, the oral and poster presentations at the conference will be reviewed against set evaluation criteria, and the best presenters from the technical sessions will receive 'Best Presenter Awards' at the closing session. Six distinguished members of the society will also be honoured in two categories — 'In Recognition of Outstanding Dedicated Service' and 'Celebrating Excellence in Service' — for their special contributions to plant science and technology.
Alongside the scientific programme, a tour of various tourist sites in Sylhet is planned for the third day of the conference, 31 October, with local and foreign delegates taking part. The organisers expect the international conference to open new horizons in plant science and agricultural research, strengthen inter-institutional and international cooperation, and help develop innovative and effective solutions to the challenges of sustainable agriculture.
