Link among scholars will help dev nation'
With that view in mind, M E Chowdhury Shameem, a Bangladeshi expatriate in New York, USA launched a web site, named www.scholarsbangladesh.com and designed by his sole effort of last 10 years, at a function in the city yesterday.
Briefing the contents of the web site, Shameem said Bangaldeshis living around the world can find out the names, contact addresses and notable works of the scholars of this land in the web site.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. All other information including job opportunities at home and abroad including scholarships will be available there, he added.
The web site will also help recognise the individuals for their extra-ordinary contribution to education, research, science, technology, arts and culture, medicine and politics, Shameem noted.
Lauding the project Science and ICT Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan said the web site will play a pioneering role in bridging the gap between the Bangladeshi scholars at home and abroad.
"We do not have the lack of scholars, but of their coordination around the globe, and I hope Shameem's initiative will reduce the gap and help the nation bloom with its full potentials," Dr Moyeen added.
Inaugurating the web site at Brac Centre Inn,
Vice-chancellor of Brac University Prof Jamilur Reza Chowdhury said there were some efforts in the past to bring together the expatriate scholars of Bangladesh, but in vain.
"I think the endeavour of Shameem is much more comprehensive than any others made previously and hope that it would work. Issues regarding qualifications and willingness of the scholars, however, should be considered seriously while including their names in the database,"he suggested.
Lauding Shameem's initiative, Economist Dr Atiur Rahman said there are many negative impressions about Bangladesh abroad, but there is also a lot to be proud of it as well.
"Through this web site we can bring together all the Bangladeshi talents around the world and bring back the name and fame of the country," he added.
Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue Debapriya Bhattacharya, however, expressed a bit sorrow saying that the remittance sent to Bangladesh mainly comes from the unskilled and semi-skilled temporary expatriates.
The skilled tend to settle abroad, he said, adding that a notable share of foreign investment of China and India comes from its diaspora.
Popular science fiction writer and teacher of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology Muhammad Zafar Iqbal also said in a sad mood that for some unknown reasons the expatriates of India are seen to have more patriotism, which is not evident among the expatriates of Bangladeshis.
"There might be debates, but links will have to be established with Bangladeshi expatriate scholars to help flourish our language and culture in everywhere in the globe," said Syed Monjurul Islam, a teacher of English department of Dhaka University.
Noted educationist Prof Zillur Rahman Siddiqui, Pro-VC of Dhaka University Prof AFM Yusuf Haider and Prof MM Akash also spoke.