The Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Bangladesh, has become a member of COMSATS’ Network of International S&T Centres of Excellence. A ‘Certificate of Membership’ was issued to BCSIR on June 6, 2011. By virtue of BCSIR’s membership to COMSATS’ Network, its Chairman has become a member of COMSATS Coordinating Council that comprises the heads of all COMSATS’ Centres of Excellence. The number of S&T and R&D organizations affiliated with COMSATS as members of its Network has thus reached seventeen.

Established in 1973, BCSIR is a leading multi-disciplinary R&D organization of Bangladesh, which is conducting research work in accordance with the national demands and is contributing to accelerate the economic progress of the country. The aims of BCSIR include initiation and promotion of scientific, industrial and technological research having a bearing on issues of establishment and development of industries and other matters referred by the government. BCSIR has three full-fledged multi-disciplinary regional laboratories, 5 mono-disciplinary institutes and one centre for pilot-plant studies.

The Ministry of Science and Information & Communication Technology (MoSICT), Government of Bangladesh, had nominated BCSIR to become a member of COMSATS’ Network prior to the 14th meeting of COMSATS Coordinating Council, recently held in Bogotá, Colombia. The nomination came as a result of detailed meetings held between the Executive Director COMSATS and the Minister of Education, Government of Bangladesh, H.E. Mr. Nurul Islam Nahid, during the 5th Islamic Conference of Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research (ICMHESR) – Kuala Lumpur (October 2010); and Secretary MoSICT, Mr. Abdur Rob Howlader, during the 14th General Assembly Meeting of COMSTECH – Islamabad (January 2011).

The case of BCSIR, Bangladesh, to become COMSATS’ Centre of Excellence was later submitted to the Coordinating Council for consideration, during its 14th Meeting and was granted a unanimous approval.