Jute genome team gets reception tomorrow

22 June 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina plays host to a reception tomorrow to be accorded to Dr Maqsudul Alam and his team that has successfully decoded the genome of jute plant. Officials of the 'Swapnajaatra' -- the consortium of scientists, researchers, academics and graduate students -- that earned the rare feat in genomics under the leadership of expatriate Bangladeshi scientist Dr Alam told The Daily Star that the programme is scheduled for 11:30am tomorrow. Dr Alam along with some 39 core members of the research group, their associates and some of the family members would be joining the audience with the prime minister at her official residence. Chris Detter, the Director of the world's most sophisticated genomics lab -- Joint Genome Institute -- is also flying in tonight from the United States to join the programme. Dr Alam, who left Dhaka for Kuala Lumpur after addressing June 17 press conference at agriculture ministry, is also coming back tonight. PM Sheikh Hasina was the first to declare before the nation that Bangladeshi scientists have sequenced the genome of the golden fibre when she addressed the parliament on June 16.