Pakistan's move to create centers of excellence: Some Islamic countries have already taken innovative steps to establish centers of excellence in their countries. For instance, the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan has recently launched a "Strategic Vision and Planning program." Under this program, the Pakistan Government is recruiting 3000 expatriates of outstanding caliber in various fields of science and technology. They are being offered good salaries and facility comparable to what they are enjoying at present in the country where they are currently employed. The best proof that the near future will witness the establishment of such state of the art institutes in Pakistan is HEJ an institute which is known throughout the world for its excellence in chemistry of natural products. The same architect, Professor Atta-ur-Rahman, whose vision and dedication made it possible to the creation and running of the above Institute is now the Minister of Education of that country and the above ambitious plan would surely materialize under his dynamic leadership. In order for Bangladesh to reap the benefit of S&T towards economic progress of the country, a similar move needs to be launched beginning with a master plan taking into consideration of urgent needs of the country. In this connection, the effort by GoB in early seventy's is worth mentioning. The author was an expatriate in East Africa. He received a questionnaire from the Foreign Ministry - questions ranging from his qualifications, his future plan and the salary he would expect in case he is offered a job in Bangladesh. Unfortunately, the plan was dropped presumably in the face of opposition from local high officials who became envious about the high salary and privileges that were promised to would-be expatriate recruits.

Bangladesh Academy of Sciences (BAS): In most of the countries, Academy of Sciences play a very important role in the formulation of S&T policies of the country. Although BAS exists, its role has been so far been passive. Its activity is crippled due to financial constraints. It has a skeleton staff to run its office. It does not have any transport of its own. The result is that it cannot discharge its responsibilities to the full.

A recent example will illustrate this point. The USDA has been requesting BAS to provide them with a copy of their constitution or any other legal document, pertaining to its establishment in order for them to create an ENDOWMENT to support agricultural research. Two reminders have come from the USDA within the last four weeks and still it is pending.

The rules of admission of fellows into the BAS should be changed. Into its fold there should be more and more active fairly young scientists elected from both home and ABROAD. Meetings on important issues should be arranged between expatriate fellows, GoB officials and local fellows through video conferencing. This technique is the order of the day and there is no reason why this cannot be employed by BAS. In fact, BRAC University has successfully tried this multimedia in its campus. Adequate funds need to be provided to BAS to make it a vital organ of the country for mutual benefits of both the sides. BRAC University's VC should be the right person to spearhead such a facility in NIB.

The Advanced Technology Program (ATP) in the USA: It will be a good idea for GoB to consider adopting ATP program similar to that now in operation in the USA. According to this program the Government shares the cost of developing high-risk but powerful new technologies encompassing a broad spectrum of potential new applications, commercial products, and services. If the principle of this program is approved, GoB may invest money in industry-proposed projects in order to develop technologies that will pay economic dividends to the nation in the long run. Through cooperative agreements with individual companies or groups of companies, large and small, the ATP invests in industry-proposed projects to develop technologies aimed at improving industrial performance, thereby paying economic dividends to the nation. While selecting the proposals for financial support, GoB needs to be neutral free of political influence. The criteria of assessment of projects should be subject to a rigorously competitive process, based not only on their merits but also business plans.

Examples of India and Pakistan have been given to show that our neighbors have much greater profile of Science and Technology than we do. Nehru catalyzed the pre-eminence of science in India's national culture with the help of his friend Homi Bhaba. Indira Gandhi nurtured this tradition and the Governments that followed have maintained this culture contributing to promotion and development of science and technology concomitant with the building up of infrastructure. In Pakistan, scientists such as Late Abdus Salam, Late Selimuzzaman and now Dr. Abdul Quadir Khan and Professor Atta-ur-Rahman are playing pivotal role in pushing the country forward on the road towards self-reliance and economic growth.

Besides China, there are other countries, namely, Thailand, Malaysia, who have in recent years achieved unprecedented technological progress, adding to their growing economy. Indonesia and Philippines are not far behind.

Only 15 years back these countries were competing with us but now they are far ahead of Bangladesh. The main reason for us to trail behind is that none of our top leaders have shown any real interest in the development of science policy and its implementation. S&T is one of the portfolios at the bottom of the priority list and more often than not, the responsibility to run this Ministry is devolved on a State Minister. My thanks go to the decision of the cabinet to change this cycle and appoint Dr.

Abdul Moyeen Khan as a full minister in charge of S&T and Communication. The whole country is now looking forward to him to provide leadership in the promotion and development of S&T, being an energized symbol and facilitator of a great change that will transform Bangladesh to join the ranks of its neighbours through proper application of S&T.

Ahmad Islam is a retired professor of Botany, Dhaka University.