Among the electricity and computer engineers

Inspite of great strides in astronomy, mathematics and medicine the South Asians did not show their keen eagerness to know about of the outer world and the matter. With regard to China Professor Fung Yu Lan said the Chinese loved the certainty of perception, not that of conception, and therefore they would not, and did not, translate their concrete vision into the form of science.

In the early period of Soviet Union, the visionary leader Lenin used to say, "Soviet System plus Electricity is equal to Socialism". Mao Tse-tung, the great Chinese leader, made disastrous experiments with his Great Leap Forward (1958), Cultural Revolution and Anti-Rightist Campaign but took special care to protect the scientists, particularly those who returned from Europe and America. Nuclear and rocket scientists were treated extra well and given privileges superior even to those enjoyed.

The Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of BUET together with technical co-sponsorship of IEEE Bangladesh section, is organising the International Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering (ICECE) on a regular basis with a view to exchanging ideas of modern developments in major areas of electrical and computer engineering. I believe that this will give the scientific and engineering communities of our country, opportunities to exchange ideas and open up cooperation and collaboration with their counterparts from abroad who participated in this year's conference (19 December 2006).

The nation needs a solution to our current power crisis and I believe this conference can be a good forum to discuss the causes of the crisis and find out remedies to the problem. I am happy to know that, just after the opening of the conference, there happened to be a plenary session to discuss about the possible solutions of our acute power crisis. I expect the suggestions put forward from both the plenary session and the conference presentations will attract the attention of our policy makers.

We are experiencing a boom in telecommunication, bio-medical engineering, industrial automation and IT applications in all sectors. This conference may initiate policy dialogues for proper planning and implementation of policies so that we can harvest the fruits of the feats of these engineering.

The graduates of BUET are contributing a lot and serving efficiently in different parts of the world. They can contribute significantly to the national development. As far as I know, BUET is free from corruption and play an important role in solving present power crisis, developing electronic industries, and providing consultancy services.

Electricity has come to the use of mankind as it has been more environment friendly, safe and controllable source of energy, having advantage of high conversion efficiency. Today modern products like TV, fridge, computers and many more are not environment friendly. These products at the end of their life cycle are becoming environmental hazards like automobiles and steel products. For ostensible purpose of improving and upgrading their internet and other systems the computer companies are producing models after models. Old computer that still could be used are turned obsolete. A computer may look small but as discussed it may be a great hazard.

For avoiding the environmental hazard and protecting the eco-system we shall have to start dialogue for imposing regulations, codes, conducts and ethics. Only deliberations and documentation will not solve our present and foreseeable problems. It must also be ensured that we do implement the guidelines that we talk about.

Rabindranath Tagore, the first Asian to receive Noble Prize for literature was not a scientist by training. He was an avid student of science. He wrote the Biswa Parichoy understanding the universe. Tagore insisted that science must in its application to society, serve society, and not vice verse. In 1930, talking to Albert Einstein in Germany he told him, "This world is a human world -- the scientific view of its is also that of a scientific man." Einstein did not agree. These days many distinguished scientists are veering to that view.

Ilya Priogogine, a Noble laureate in chemistry, said in 1984: 'Curiously enough, the present evolution of science is running in the direction stated by the great Indian poet.' But it is a long way. Hamelink has correctly observed, "As with so many other 'global' events, if there is a global information revolution, the majority of the world's revolutions has not received an invitation."

For electrical and computer engineers a great challenge is waiting. By conjuring up cheap solar energy they may meet the challenge half way and that would be a great success.

Muhammad Habibur Rahman is former Chief Justice and head of caretaker government.The article is based on his speech as chief guest at the fourth ICECE 2006.