Bangladeshi premier calls for investment in science, tech to regain lost Muslim heritage

By Md. Kamruzzaman

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) – Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday called on the Muslim world to invest more in science and technology for Muslim children to bring back the lost glorious heritage of the community (ummah).

“Muslims once showed their leadership in science, technology, literature, and culture. But why do the Muslims today lag behind the glorious past? We have to analyze it,” Hasina said, adding that Muslim nations across the world need strong endeavors and entrepreneurs in the fields of science and technology.

The premier of the South Asian Muslim majority nation raised the issue while addressing the 35th Convocation of the Islamic University of Technology (IUT) on its campus in the central district of Gazipur, on the outskirts of the capital Dhaka.

Visiting secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Hissein Brahim Taha, who is also the chancellor of the university, presided over the function.

IUT is one of the OIC-funded universities located in Bangladesh that offers undergraduate and graduate programs in engineering and technical education with scholarship facilities for meritorious Muslim students across the globe.

Referring to the potential of the Muslim states in the world, Hasina added that Muslims are currently possessing a significant amount of wealth.

“We (the Muslim nations) can regain our glorious lost heritage by using this resource for the development of science and modern technology,” Hasina said.

Underlining the lack of unity among the Muslim communities as a weakness, she urged the Muslim states to work together.

The head of the 57-member biggest Islamic platform, presiding over the program, also emphasized unity among the Muslim nations for their progress.

Graduates of the 2021 and 2022 academic years were conferred degrees.

The OIC secretary general, who arrived in Bangladesh on Saturday on a five-day official visit, also toured the Rohingya refugee camps to assess their living conditions.

He also held meetings with Prime Minister Hasina and Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen.