Biotech Breakthroughs at BRACU: Two‑Day International Conference Concludes
“Advancing Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences for Sustainable Development” — under this theme BRAC University brought its two‑day International Biotechnology Conference 2025 to a close on Saturday, 21 June, at the university’s Merul Badda campus. The forum highlighted cross‑disciplinary partnerships and showcased progress in biotechnology research and application.
The final day featured the second plenary session, “Re‑imagining Biotech: Building Start‑ups, SMEs and Private‑Sector Pathways for Biotech Graduates,” which examined how newly generated knowledge and technology can be translated into effective solutions through innovation and enterprise.
Organisers set up 14 thematic tracks covering more than 100 research presentations. Key topics included healthcare innovation, agro‑biotechnology, environmental sustainability and computational biology. A poster exhibition allowed students and early‑career scientists to display their work, exchange ideas with senior researchers and refine their investigative skills.
Special guests at the closing ceremony were Dr Md Sagheer Ahmed, Director‑General of the National Institute of Biotechnology, and Dr Md Firoz H. Haque, Chair of BRAC University’s Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. The conference convener, Dr Munima Haque — Director of the university’s Biotechnology Programme — delivered the valedictory address.
The programme opened on Friday, 20 June. Chief speaker Professor Dr Md Sayedur Rahman, Special Assistant at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, observed that “scientific progress and social development must advance together.” In his keynote he stressed “intelligence, resilience and purpose‑driven mind‑sets” to tackle emerging national challenges and overcome weak research infrastructure.
Professor Mahbubul Alam Majumdar, Dean of BRAC’s School of Data and Sciences, noted that “biological sciences, technology and computational power now converge to solve real‑world problems.” Registrar Dr David Dowland added that the conference forms part of the university’s effort “to create positive impact through productive research,” aiming to reduce brain drain and foster an active intellectual environment.
Hosted by the Biotechnology Programme of the Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, School of Data and Sciences, the event sought to underline the transformative role of biotechnology in addressing contemporary global challenges. More than 1,000 eminent scientists, researchers, academics and students from Bangladesh and abroad attended, facilitating dialogue among academia, public health, industry and education sectors.
A highlight was Friday’s first plenary, “From Bench to Breakthroughs: A Lifetime Journey in Biotechnology,” where researchers from agricultural biotech, medical physics and environmental science shared the stories behind their discoveries.
