Agrilife24.com:Dhaka University witnessed a major convergence of scientific leadership as the 11th International Plant Tissue Culture & Biotechnology Conference (IPTC&B) was inaugurated on Saturday, 24 January 2026, at the historic Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban. Speaking as Guest of Honour, Dr. F. H. Ansarey, Group Advisor, ACI PLC and President, ACI Agribusinesses, emphasized that conferences of this nature are not only academically significant but also critically important for Bangladesh’s sustainable agricultural and economic development.
Dr. Ansarey congratulated the Bangladesh Association of Plant Tissue Culture & Biotechnology (BAPTC&B) for its consistent leadership and commitment to advancing biotechnology research. He expressed optimism that such international platforms would strengthen collaboration between academia, research institutions, and the private sector. In his remarks, he noted that in the current context of climate change, food security challenges, and increasing population pressure, plant tissue culture and biotechnology are no longer optional they are essential tools for national progress.
Highlighting Bangladesh’s present realities, Dr. Ansarey stressed that data-driven innovation, biotechnology-based crop improvement, and sustainable agribusiness models are key to ensuring resilience in agriculture. He underscored the need to translate laboratory research into field-level solutions, adding that partnerships between universities and industry such as those represented at this conference can accelerate the journey from science to impact. He concluded by wishing the conference great success and reaffirmed his hope for long-term collaboration in the years ahead.
The inaugural session was graced by a distinguished panel of guests. Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed, Honorable Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic), University of Dhaka, inaugurated the conference as Chief Guest. Professor Dr. Sagir Ahmed, Director General, National Institute of Biotechnology, and Professor Dr. Md. Enamul Haque, Dean, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Dhaka, attended as Special Guests. The welcome address was delivered by Professor Dr. Rakha Hari Sarker, President, BAPTC&B.
A key academic highlight of the session was the thematic presentation titled “Integration of AI and Genomics: Data-Driven Transformation in Agricultural Biotechnology” by Professor Dr. Haseena Khan, Fellow of the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, which set the intellectual tone for the three-day conference. The session also featured remarks from Dr. Ansarey, Professor Dr. Md. Enamul Haque, Professor Dr. Sagir Ahmed, and Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed, reflecting a shared vision for innovation-led agricultural development.
The inaugural ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Professor Dr. Mohammad Nurul Islam, General Secretary, BAPTC&B. The three-day international conference (24–26 January 2026) brings together national and international scientists, researchers, and policymakers, reinforcing Bangladesh’s growing role as a hub for agricultural biotechnology and scientific collaboration in South Asia.