Two examples
In the early 1970s an SSC candidate, in order to pass, was not only required to obtain average pass marks in the board examination but in addition had to produce a certificate that two illiterate persons learnt Bengali alphabets and simple arithmetic from him. Imagine the impact of that program if it had continued.

The other example is based on my personal experience. It was 1973. In an effort to bring back expatriates for the building of the newly created sovereign state, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs circulated a letter to non-resident Bangladeshis (NRB), asking them whether they would like to return to Bangladesh; if so on what terms and conditions.

I was then in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, on leave from Dhaka University. I also received a copy of this circular. Bangladeshis responded in an overwhelmingly positive manner. Such a well-intentioned move died down soon. According to unconfirmed reports, the civil servants who wielded power at that time didn't like the idea that the expatriates would enjoy more pay and privileges than them. So the permanence of the proposed NRB ministry needs to be considered before its creation.

Agenda
If the ministry is created, one of its most important tasks will be to identify the NRBs available in various fields and create databases, one for each field. Once such databases are available, arrangement by the proposed ministry may be made so that a copy of any advertisement requiring a highly qualified scientist/technologist may be sent individually to such persons inviting them to apply. Surely, as pointed out by both Mr. Sobhan and Dr. M Rahman, such experts are available and their services would cost the exchequer less than the services of their foreign counterparts.

Many of them would like to offer their services on a part-time basis without leaving their present jobs. Because of their exceptional ability and extraordinary experience, such expatriates may be able to discharge their responsibilities taking advantage of IT advancements such as video conferencing, cell phone facilities, and illustrated email messages. By working part time such persons may be able to provide the country almost the same benefit as they could have if they were appointed full time by the GoB or an industry.

The main drawback for many expatriates with grown up children is to find a good college or university in Bangladesh where their wards can pursue their education. For them a part-time employment is the best solution so they could finance the education of their college and university going sons and daughters.

Databases
The help of the Foreign Ministry will be needed to collect preliminary information on all possible sectors, namely, on those of science, technology, industries and trades for the proposed ministry. It is a lengthy process, but judicious use of IT will make it simpler for the Foreign Ministry to keep track of non-resident Bangladeshis engaged in various kinds of professions or pursuing undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate degrees, and to pass on the information to the proposed NRB ministry for the final preparation of the databank.

Creation of websites
I shall cite an instance as to how a recently launched website: "Global Network for Bangladeshi Biotechnologists (gnobb.org)" has been able to create a database of 166 expatriate biotechnologists working all over the globe particularly in the US, Japan, and UK.

The search engine in this website has been designed in such a way that it is capable of retrieving relevant information such as the names of expatriates and local scientists working in a particular field of biotechnology, merely by entering a specialised field in the search box on the right hand column and pressing the box marked "GO" underneath it.

Supposing an interested person wants to know how many Bangladeshi biotechnologists (BB) are working in different fields of "cancer," all he/she needs is to write the word "cancer" and press "GO." It will retrieve names, each with a hyperlink giving the relevant information of that person, in brief, with his expertise and email address; similarly, names in plant biotechnology and names in tissue culture will show up.

Possible avenues of help
There are important organizations such as The Engineering Institute, Bangladesh Medical Council, Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Bangladesh Association for Advancement of Sciences, individual scientific societies on different disciplines including those on engineering and medicine, Chambers of commerce that the proposed ministry may approach for help in the data collection process. After the proposed ministry launches a dynamic website with an online submission form for the expatriates to directly fill in, and the news gets round, the seemingly difficult task will become much easier.

In the GNOBB website some online forms can be viewed although they were created for different purposes. One of the forms is the "participation form" and the other relates to the visit of GNOBB members to Bangladesh so that interested local organisations may contact these expatriates and utilise their services in various forms, such as for seminar lectures or short consultancy assignments or requesting them to take short theory and lab courses etc.

Strict guidelines
On no account should these high salaried technical jobs be offered to people with political affiliation. Recruitment should be based purely on the merit and experience of an individual. In order to reap the benefits of hiring technical people, there should be a high-powered advisory board consisting of 50% high local officials of relevant ministries including PSC nominee, VCs of some technology universities (both from public and private sectors) and 50% expatriates of Bangladeshi origin (only a foreigner if no Bangladeshi expatriate is available in a particular specialised field) to assist in the selection process.

Attitude and morals
I couldn't agree more with Mr. Sobhan when he asserts that those who studied in a foreign country from their childhood have in their character embedded moral values such as integrity of character, basic honesty, respect for human dignity, love for work, keeping away from underhand means to get promotion or gain favour. The more these talented people return to serve our country the better are our chances of rising to the top among Asian nations.

After all, in basic intelligence and capabilities, Bangladeshis are in no way behind any other nation, as has been proved again and again by Bangladeshi expatriates occupying high positions in multinational companies or even as entrepreneurs of newly-established foreign private companies.

One adverse effect
Mr. Sobhan may not have noticed one dismal side of the picture. It is true that there are more Bangladeshis who are anxious to return to their motherland but there are others also who do not have time to teach their children Bangla or Bangladeshi culture.

In Austin, I attended a number of cultural functions arranged by the Bangladeshi community. The children, who accompany their parents, are least interested in attending those shows. Most of them hardly know the language and as such do not enjoy such functions. They do not know our history as to how Bangladesh was created. Before we realise it, there will be less and less of such cultural functions in the US and other foreign lands.

On the other hand, look at other communities: Chinese, Sikh, Indian and Pakistanis. They speak their own language, follow their culture and visit their parent countries much more often than Bangladeshis. The result is that while the ties of expatriate people, other than Bangladeshis, continue to remain strong with their motherland, many young Bangladeshis in foreseeable future will no longer take pride in our culture and soon be lost to this country.

It is high time that the Bangladesh government takes suitable steps to reverse the process. In the event the NRB ministry is created, a separate division needs to be established. The responsibility of this division will be to investigate, with the help of embassies and High Commissions, into the causes that gradually detract the children of expatriates from taking interest in Bengali culture, and those that dissuade them from learning the mother tongue.

In this matter we can follow the British Council or American Information Center by founding Bangladesh Council in important cities of the US and the UK to begin with. It would not cost the government much because Bangladeshi expatriates living in those cities will, for sure, come forward to help in the establishment of such centres and take active part in running them.

I support the creation of an NRB ministry on a pattern in conformity with our own style and culture and not necessarily a copy of such ministries that exist in India and Pakistan.

AS Islam is a retired Professor of Botany, Dhaka University.