As an undergraduate student of Physics at Dhaka University during 1967-70, I frequented the children’s section of the British Council library at Dhaka to read books on science that opened up my insight into the concepts and applications of Physics, a foundation that has helped me ever since.
When I was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship in 1974 for a PhD in Microelectronics at Southampton University, it was the British Council which provided much of the support.
Living in the UK made me realise how indigenous technological innovations contribute to the quality of life enhancement of the common people, and gave me the realisation of my responsibility in life: using technology to improve the quality of life of our deprived people back home. After coming back in 1978 and getting a teaching position at the University of Dhaka, I was looking into avenues of research that would match my cause for coming back. One of my senior teachers motivated me to join a research project in Medical Physics where my expertise in Electronics was instrumental for success. This work subsequently led to a link with Sheffield University (1983-1992) under the Higher Education Programme of the then British ODA, through enthusiastic support of the British Council. Seeing my eagerness, scientists in Sheffield gave their best in acquainting me with the relevant modern technology.
The success in our research in Medical Physics led to the creation of a new department in Dhaka University named Biomedical Physics & Technology in 2008, and I was given the responsibility as its first Chairperson. Our efforts have since been supported financially by different Government and non-government organisations from home and abroad. Today we are known as a leading group in the international arena in our field, not only in low-cost medical technology but the innovation of new methodologies in Medical Physics. Universities in UK, Norway, Korea and Singapore have started research using our methodologies.
To reduce the technology disparity existing in the globe which in turn has resulted in a huge economic disparity, we have decided to start a new global scenario without patents. We will not take out patents on our innovations; rather we will take proactive measures to empower scientists and engineers from the low resource countries through training them in relevant technology. We are already finding moral and active support from home and abroad, again much from the British scientists introduced through the British Council. The British Council have played a pivotal role in the country’s progressive developments.
At present, I have about ten PhD and MPhil students besides scores of Masters level students, who believe in our commitment to help the deprived people on the earth with essential technology. I feel happy that, with the help of the British Council, I have been able to create a group of dedicated young people who will carry my dreams forward even when I will not be here.