Groom youths with modern technical knowledge

"The tomorrow's world will be dominated by technological know-how. Our next generation should be groomed with modern technical knowledge to cope with the challenges ahead," he said while he was inaugurating the 11th biennial general meeting of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh at Sheraton Hotel in the city.

Society President Prof Emajuddin Ahmed presided over the inaugural session.

"Asiatic Society of Bangladesh has an excellent track record as a leading learned organisation in the country," said the President, also the chief patron of the Society.

Its publications bear witness to this, he said and mentioned the National Encyclopedia of Banglapedia, three volumes of History of Bangladesh (1704-1971), Bangladesh on the threshold of the 21st Century, Administration of Justice in Bangladesh, A trilogy of Archaeological Sites, Golden Jubilee Volume (1952-2002), Sharia Law, and Sea Level Changes in Bangladesh.

He said the Society, since its inception in 1952, has made a tremendous contribution towards the advancement of knowledge in the country and projection of positive image of Bangladesh to outside world.

The Society has been maintaining its tradition and commitment to disseminating and promoting learning and knowledge during the last 50 years, "a laudable phenomenon in our intellectual advancement," he said.

Asiatic Society has been preeminent in the publication of research books and journals of high standard and organisation of learned talks, symposia and seminars, he added.

He said the government is very much aware of creating congenial atmosphere in the field of education and research. "Under the patronage of the then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, it received Tk 30 lakh from her as grant in 1994 for the National Fellowship for Advancement Research programme of the Society."

The government has also recently enhanced the grant-in-aid of the Society to facilitate its research works more actively and vigorously, he said.

Iajuddin said, "Research needs more investment and time for finding actual facts and outcome. But developing countries can't afford to invest sufficient amount in the field of research due their financial constraint."

"To face these problems, developing countries may work unitedly for their respective interest with a view to unearthing potential research fields," he said

The President said the Asiatic Society is a learned institution, which needs generous support and help from the affluent section of the society as well as the government to carry out research and scholarly studies.

Calling upon the patrons to invest in the scholarly works of the Society, he said, "Their return will be more than the money and they can boast that they have spent in spreading knowledge and learning in the country."

Society General Secretary Prof SM Mahfuzur Rahman presented the Biennial Report for 2004-2005 at the session, while ASB secretary Prof Najma Khan Majlis gave the vote of thanks.