Letters To The Editor
Retirement age of scientists
The government's decision to increase the retirement age of BCSIR scientists is a welcome step as currently many scientists at the prime of their productive life have been forced into retirement. Indeed, this arrangement should also be made available to scientists in all government laboratories and universities. However, I question whether this increase in retirement age should be an automatic entitlement. The extension should only be given to those who continue to be productive. The selection process should be based entirely on merit and must be transparent and not influenced by political considerations.
Scientists and academics in Bangladesh are very poorly paid which forces some to look for a second job. Strong incentives should be provided to productive scientists all through their career and not only at the time of their retirement, so that they can devote themselves fully to their research. Productivity (as measured by quality publications, patents, technology transfer and ability to attract competitive research funding) could be rewarded with adjustable salary increases and other emoluments.
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