BSBMB’s participation in the 21st IUBMB and 12th FAOBMB Congress to be held in Shanghai, August 2-7, 2009

According to a resolution taken in the Executive Committee meeting of BSBMB held on July 25, 2009. Professor Haseena Khan, General Secretary of the Society will attend as a delegate of the Bangladesh Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology the Council meeting of FAOBMB. The Society has asked Dr. Khan to discuss in this council meeting which is to be held just before the 21st IUBMB and 12th FAOBMB Congress the possibility of arranging a FAOBMB Symposium in Dhaka, Bangladesh within the next 2-3 years.

The Society is also proud to announce that two of its general members have been awarded IUBMB and FAOBMB fellowship. They are:

(1) M Shahidul Islam, Ph.D. student, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka and general member of BSBMB has been awarded fellowship of an IUBMB sponsored ‘Young Scientist Program’ which is awarded on a competitive basis to Ph. D students from around the world. These awardees will meet in a program of the young scientists to be held from July 30-August 01, 2009 prior to the IUBMB/FAOBMB Congress.

(2) Ms. Rozalynne Samira, a M.Phil student, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka and general member of BSBMB has been awarded A FAOBMB travel fellowship for participation in the Congress.

Our Prayers for BSBMB President Prof HKM Yusuf and general member, Professor Apala F Naved

The Society prays for a speedy recovery of its President, Professor Harun Kader Md. Yusuf and Professor Apala F Naved suffering from health complications.

BIOCHEMISTRY OLYMPIAD

Dear members, you will happy to know that Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dhaka University is planning to organize an Olympiad termed as The Biochemistry Olympiad for the students of Class IX-X/O level and Intermediate/A level students

The organizers BIOCHEMISTRY OLYMPIAD contest will open doors for a lot of students and provoke their thoughts to contribute something for their own country. Not only this, the contest will also help to generate new ideas to solve many problems in the biological field, like global warming, AIDS or the even the swine flu!

They believe that this contest might open doors towards winning Nobel Prize in biology in future!!

Olympiad event will be organized in between December’09- January’10.The organizers will highly appreciate the participation of students in the competition from esteemed institutions of the country.

They assure that participation in this Olympiad competition will definitely be rewarding. In this regard the organizers are sending notices to different schools and colleges (please see the link, a letter from the organizers’ of Biochemistry Olympiad-downloadable from eSnips).

The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka gets a facelift

Many of the Society’s members will be happy to know that the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka now wears a new look, thanks to generous contribution of Japanese government which gave this face lift not only to our department but also to the entire Curzon Hall Campus. The department also got a much needed renovation inside the age old building.

National Health Policy

Recently the GoB has developed a draft National Health Policy and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare was seeking feedback to this policy from different institutions, organizations and individuals. The Executive Committee of Society met to study the policy and then came up with the following points which have been submitted to the ministry.

The Bangladesh Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in a meeting of its Executive Committee on July 25, 2009 has made the following observations and comments.

The Society greatly appreciated the present government's effort in drafting a national health policy with a view to providing health care for all the citizens of the country. The Society appreciates GoB’s eagerness to take health care facilities to the doorsteps of all its population.

In helping the GoB achieve this target the Bangladesh Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology makes the following suggestions:

(1) Like other countries of the world, graduate biochemists of Bangladesh are involved in carrying out efficiently the necessary biochemical tests that the doctors need for correct and precise diagnosis. To achieve the goal of taking health care services to the doorsteps of all Bangladeshis the Society is proposing the appointment of one graduate biochemist in each upazila health complex. This will greatly reduce the cost and sufferings of the elderly, female and young patients of coming to big cities for the necessary tests.

(2) It appears from the draft policy that the GoB wants to take preventive steps in reducing malnutrition related health complications. Regarding this the Society feels strongly that the appointment of a Nutritionist/Biochemist in each upazila health complex (which could also be associated with primary schools for providing nutrition related advice to mothers and children) would be greatly effective in reaching the said goal.

(3)Support/Incentive for local manufacture of diagnostic kits as a step to reduce cost of such kits which is 100% import dependent. Manufacture of such kits locally would also lead to employment opportunities for many.

(4) To include the Bangladesh Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in different committees for a successful implementation of the National Health Policy, 2009.
 

Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Dhaka

The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Dhaka celebrated its golden Jubilee in November 29-30, 2008. This hugely successful event saw the participation of about 800 ex-students of the department most of whom are general members of the Bangladesh Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BSBMB).

On this grand occasion the Society had arranged a half day long International Scientific Conference. This conference was participated by Konrad Sandhoff, Professor Emeritus, University of Bonn, Germany and Dr. Kozi Asada, Professor Emeritus, Kyoto University, Japan. The presentations of a number of renowned graduates from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka working in prestigious national and international institutions both in Bangladesh and outside the country also helped to make the conference so a successful.

[Fig: 1] President and General Secretary presenting citations to Prof. K Asada in a ceremony where the two distinguished scientists have been offered Honorary Life Membership of the Society.

[Fig: 2] President and General Secretary presenting citations to Prof. K Sandhoff in a ceremony where the two distinguished scientists have been offered Honorary Life Membership of the Society.

A book of abstract published on this occasion has been uploaded. (Dowload Link)

On this occasion the Society in recognition of the great contribution to the advancement of science and scientific research, conferred on Professor Konrad Sandhoff and Professor Kozi Asada, the Honorary Life Membership of the Bangladesh Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. In this regard a simple ceremony was held in a local restaurant where the Society presented the two distinguished scientists with a citation and a crest. This ceremony was followed by a dinner. This self contributory dinner was attended by 20 general members of the Society some with their family members.