Bengal has a rich tradition of science, but unfortunately, it has not been exercised and developed in the region, they said.

They said these at the inaugural session of a two-day seminar titled 'Albert Einstein and SN Bose' that began at the city's Bhasani Novo Theatre.

The seminar was organised by Bangladesh Academy of Sciences (Bas), German Cultural Centre and the Ministry of Science and ICT.

United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organisation (Unesco)declared 2005 as International Year of Physics on the occasion of the centenary celebration of the Theory of Relativity and outstanding developments in Physics over the period.

Recalling the contribution of Einstein and Bose , Science and ICT Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan said both of them were vocal for peace, which can be a lesson for the young generation.

"The world would not be structured the way it has been now unless scientists like Albert Einstein and SN Bose had discovered their great theories," Bas President Dr Shamsher Ali said.

He urged the government for more budgetary allocation for the development of science education in the country. "We always talk about money, but we should keep in mind that the economy in today's world is knowledge-based."

"In fact, all modern scientific instruments, from digital camera to computer, owe their development to the modern theories of Physics," said Bas Fellow and Seminar Coordinator Dr Anwar Hossain.

Charge d' Affaires of Swiss Embassy in Dhaka HP Fitze and Ambassador of Germany in Dhaka Dietrich Andreas also addressed the inaugural session that was presided over by Professor Dr Shamsher Ali.

Scientists from Germany, Switzerland, India and Bangladesh will deliver their speeches in the seminar.