Category: Maryland

North South University held a seminar titled ‘Nanotechnology: Small Things Matter and Have the Power to Transform Energy, Health, and the Environment’ to advance scientific research and innovation. The keynote speaker, Dr. Jamal Uddin, founder of the Center for Nanotechnology and professor at Coppin State University, highlighted the potential of nanotechnology in transforming fields such as medicine, industry, environment and health. The corona vaccine was developed in just 6 to 9 months, demonstrating the rapid advancement of nanotechnology.

The seminar was chaired by Professor Dr. Mohammad Hossain Shariar, Chairman of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at North South University. The seminar also included a memorandum of understanding signed between North South University and Coppin State University, committing to mutual cooperation to improve education quality. A plan has been made to build a nanotechnology institute at North South University.

East West University (EWU) hosted a public lecture on ‘World Trade and Bangladesh’ on 17 December 2024. Addressing the lecture, renowned economist and former professor at Morgan State University in the US, MG Quibria, emphasized the need for Bangladesh to diversify its export markets beyond Europe and the USA, focusing on neighboring countries like China and India.

He highlighted the importance of investing in health and education to develop skilled human resources and urged the government to address critical issues like oil, gas, and electricity shortages.

Quibria said increased trade restrictions are leading to disrupted supply chains and fragmentation of global trade into US-leaning and China-leaning blocs.

An analysis by the International Monetary Fund suggests that global economies have virtually become separated into three blocs: the west-leaning bloc, the China-leaning bloc, and a tiny non-aligned bloc.

Pointing to how trade between two of these major blocs has fallen significantly, he said the non-aligned countries like Mexico and Vietnam, which are also called “connector countries,” have stabilized global trade from falling precipitously.

“These developments may create a very vulnerable position for a small, trade-dependent country like Bangladesh, which has very little say in international discourse,” he said.

“All the discussions are taking place between feuding parties outside the UN or WTO,” Quibria added.

Shams Rahman, vice chancellor of EWU, also spoke at the lecture.