Dr Abed Chowdhury, the inventor of Bangladesh's notable Panchbrihi rice, has expressed his disappointment over the lack of recognition for valuable creations in the country.
During a seminar titled "Food Security and Sustainable Development in Bangladesh," organised by the Global South Studies and Research Center (GSSRC) at Jagannath University, he shared his personal experience of repeatedly presenting ideas to the ministries without receiving any support.
Dr Abed Chowdhury stated, "My patents are registered outside the country, but the Bangladeshi government has not provided any support to us. I specifically chose a rural area in my country for this research, so that my country would benefit from it. In our country, no one is recognised for doing something good, but when scholars from Oxford or Harvard say something, it is highly valued." He continued, "When I was in Australia, if I made a call the day before, I would be able to meet MPs and ministers the very next day. But here, in our ministries, we have to meet secretaries, who listen to me, fall asleep, and then send me off with tea and biscuits."
During the seminar, the Chief Guest, University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Md Rezaul Karim, called for both government and private sectors to support Dr Abed Chowdhury's innovations. He said, "Panchbrihi rice will play a crucial role in increasing the country's food production and ensuring food security. By utilising this technology, Bangladesh will move further towards sustainable development."
Dr Abed Chowdhury also highlighted that during colonial times, science was separated from the public and placed in the hands of scientists. "We now want to bring science back into the hands of the people. We have democratised innovation through the invention of Panchbrihi rice, and we are currently working on other crops such as jowar, mustard, brinjal, and okra. Our research is ongoing. Last year, we invented a seed that doesn't require a father plant. Our innovation is highly beneficial for carbon and methane mitigation."
