Centre for Advanced Research in Sciences-CARS, University of Dhaka

After a research collaboration meeting on March 11th, 2024, with Dr. Abu Asaduzzaman, faculty member of PennState Harrisburg, USA, and Dr. Samiran Bhattacharjee and Dr. Md. Abdul Matin, scientists from CARS.

Today,( 24th April,2024) a seminar was held at the Center for Advanced Research in Sciences (CARS) with the presence of over 100 educators, researchers, and students, focusing on the innovative rice variety "Panchbrihi." Dr. Abed Choudhury, the inventor of this rice and a distinguished geneticist, presented a paper. The esteemed Chief Guest at the seminar was Professor Dr. Sitesh Chandra Bachar, Honorable Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) of the University of Dhaka. Special guests included Mr. Shafiqul Alam Choudhury, Member of Parliament from Moulvibazar-2 constituency, and Mr. Nazrul Islam Khan, former Secretary of Education and Curator of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum.

The seminar was co-organized by Bangladesh Open Source Network (BdOSN) and Bangladesh Freedom Foundation (BFF). Among others, Mr. Munir Hasan, Managing Editor of BdOSN, and Mr. Sazzadur Rahman Choudhury, Executive Director of BFF, were present on behalf of their organizations.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the collaborators and participants for their valuable contributions and support towards organizing this seminar.

Prof. Dr. Ishtiaque M Sayed, Director of CARS, led a research team from CARS, University of Dhaka, to Nimsar, Cumilla on July 6th, 2024, to launch a pilot project exploring alternative rice cultivation methods aimed at benefiting farmers with carbon credits. Accompanied by Dr. Md. Nurul Huda, senior scientist, and Md. Anwar Hossain, scientist, both from CARS, we engaged with local farmers. Also present were Mr. Taichi Watanabe, Managing Director & Founder of AJI-CLE Co., Ltd., Japan, and Md Emranul Huq Chawdhury, Founder of Antar (NGO). Our collaboration, under Dr. Sayed's leadership, is focused on advancing sustainable agriculture and community welfare.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Centre for Advanced Research in Sciences (CARS), University of Dhaka and AJI-CLE. Co, Japan at Dhaka University. Professor Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed, the honorable treasure of Dhaka University, has signed on behalf of the university, while Mr. Taichi Watanabe, the CEO of AJI-CLE Co., has represented the company. Professor Dr. A.S.M. Maksud Kamal, the Honorable Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University, attended the signing ceremony. Before the signing ceremony, Mr. Taichi provided a concise overview of his strategy for implementing the alternate wetting and drying (AWD) method in Bangladesh. Professor Maksud Kamal showed his interest for the AWD method and expressed his optimism for its success. The programme was conducted by Professor Ishtiaque M. Syed, the director of the CARS.

AWD is a water-saving technology that farmers can apply to reduce their water use in rice irrigated fields. The process reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 30-50% and increase of rice production up to 22%. AJI-CLE Co., in collaboration with the CARS and ANTAR, is planning to introduce the AWD method in Bangladesh. Air Quality Lab of CARS will provide technological and scientific assistance in this project.

Great News!
We have automated the Analytical Service Application System of CARS. Now people can apply for analytical services online and after finishing all the necessary requirements need to come to CARS physically once to deliver the samples.

We want to mention that, last year we automated the booking system of cafeteria, guest rooms and conference rooms.

We are in the process of integrating the payment gateway system with all the offered services by this year.

We want to express our gratitude to Md. Abdur Rahman, Principal Computer Scientist of CARS for facilitating and maintaining all the IT services of CARS, in addition to his research work.

Congratulations to Dr. Md. Arafat Al Mamun, Principal Scientist & Head of the Fermentation & Pilot Plant Laboratory of CARS, DU. His team has received a research fund of 16.00 Lakh BDT from Ministry of Education, Govt. of the People’s republic of Bangladesh.
Details of his project can be found at the CARS website.

Sharing Three Great News for CARS, DU.
1) Congratulations to Dr. Gazi Nurun Nahar Sultana, Chief Scientist of the Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Laboratory of CARS for becoming the National PI of the international project titled "Genetics of Mortality in Critical Care". The project has been approved by the University of Edinburgh, UK and Bangladesh has become a partner country of the GENOMICC consortium. Dr. Mamun-Al-Mahtab, Professor, Hepatology Department, BSMMU, Dhaka is the Co-PI of the Project.
2) Congratulations to Dr. Latiful Bari, Chief Scientist & Head of the Food and Nutrition Research Laboratory of CARS, DU. His team is awarded 19.00 Lakh BDT by Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) for a research project.
3) Congratulations to Dr. Sk. Ariful Hoque, Principal Scientist & Head and Dr. Tania Hossain, Scientist of the Cell and Tissue Culture Laboratory of CARS, DU. The team has been awarded 10.00 Lakh BDT by Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) for a research project.
Details can be found at the latest news section of CARS website - https://cars.du.ac.bd/

Microbiology and HPLC training for Department of Agricultural Extension officials-

Thank you Dr. Md. Latiful Bari, Chief Scientist & Lab-in-charge, Dr. Asma Rahman, Principal Scientist and Dr. Sharmin Zaman Emon, Senior Scientist of the Food and Nutrition Research Laboratory of CARS and Dr. Md. Noor Hossain and
Nahyan Mohammad Abid of Biological Hazard and Health Research Laboratory for successfully completing a week-long training program on Microbiology and HPLC.
Congratulations to the trainees of Department of Agricultural Extension.

Details about The Food and Nutrition Research Laboratory can be found at: https://cars.du.ac.bd/laboratories/6/details

Thank you Dr. Sheikh Ariful Hoque, Principal Scientist & Lab-in-charge, Dr. Tania Hossain, Scientist and Ummay Nasrin Sultana, Senior Technical Officer of the Cell and Tissue Culture Laboratory of CARS for successfully completing a week-long training program on Bio Safety and Cell Culture Techniques for Advanced Research.
Congratulations to the trainees!
Details about The Cell and Tissue Culture Laboratory can be found at:
https://cars.du.ac.bd/laboratories/10/details

If you are eligible, then please apply. Details can be found at https://jobs.du.ac.bd

We are delighted to host Dr. Md. Shahiduzzaman, Assistant Professor (Tenure Track), Nanomaterials Research Institute (NanoMaRi), Kanazawa University, Japan, for a very informative and inspiring talk on Perovskite Solar Cells. I am grateful to the speaker and like to thank the faculty members, graduate students and the scientists of CARS, whose presence have made the seminar successful.

Registration for May'24 session is now close. Pls, apply for the next session. For details pls visit https://cellculturedu.weebly.com/training-offer.html