True that there are so many short term priorities and distractions that our politicians and decision makers are easily carried away by these. As a result due importance is simply not given to S&T, which requires long term vision, clever strategy, and efficient and planned actions. But to continue to do so would be a grave mistake. There can be no doubt in anyone's mind that the people of this country, and apparently, all the political parties, dream of a modern, vibrant, technologically and economically strong nation. In order to achieve this, there is no alternative to giving due emphasis to the development of our national S&T base. This is not just a theoretical idea. One does not have to go too far to find a proof of this.

India's S&T endeavour is a bright example of how S&T can be harnessed to accelerate economic growth even in a developing country. Let us know about India's experience in the words of the Indian Minister of State for Science and Technology & Ocean Development Mr. Kapil Sibal: "...Under a succession of enlightened leaders, Indian government have long recognised the need for any country that aspires to call itself a modern nation to invest heavily in science and technology...The fruits of this foresight are now widely visible...this has placed it (India) in strong position to engage in the global knowledge economy, rather than remaining on the margins..."

Other countries in our neighbourhood including China, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam are also aggressively pursuing their S&T programmes. Take the case of Vietnam that has an economic condition similar to ours. Recently, the Vietnamese government embarked an ambitious national S&T effort. How much importance Vietnam attaches to the development of indigenous S&T can be gauged from the fact that it even created a new position of vice prime minister and put him in charge of the S&T activities. In 1995, the Vietnamese government supported nine thousand S&T research projects in different institutions and Universities.

For S&T to be an effective tool in our economic development, substantial investments have to be made in creating S&T infrastructure and supporting research projects in the short as well as longterm. Investment in S&T in Bangladesh is miniscule compared to what is necessary for S&T to have an impact on the economy. Statistics show that the annual S&T expenditure in our country is about 0.22% of GNP. Of this amount, the actual expenditure in research and development was only 0.09% in the early 1990s, which declined to 0.01% in 1996. In contrast, the Vienna Programme of Action on Science and Technology for Development recommended a yearly expenditure of 1% of GNP in a developing country. Developed countries and some aspiring developing countries spend 2-4% of GNP annually on S&T. To get the most out of S&T activities a sound base in terms of investment, human resource, and knowledge has to be created. It is, therefore, no wonder that the industrial sector of this country could not benefit from our feeble indigenous S&T activities.

The government in this country has to play the leading role in the area of investment in S&T. Given the infant state of our industry, one cannot reasonably expect a lot of S&T investment by the private sector at this stage. In fact, be it in a developed or a developing country, the major share of S&T expenditure is met by the state. Even in the most capitalist of countries, USA, the government spends a hundred billion of tax payers' dollars each year in funding S&T research. The Indian government in 2003-2004, spent 24,226 crore rupees on S&T and the spending is rising every year. Obviously, one cannot expect our government to spend a similar sum. But it needs to start spending a meaningful sum of money on S&T which is long overdue. As our industry expands, the private sector will take an increasing share of the burden in the long run. But at this stage, there is no alternative to spending public money in S&T.

For a national S&T programme to be meaningful an efficient management system is needed. There are successful S&T management models existing in different countries. These models depend on the participation of scientists/technologists in the management of the national S&T activities. The key element of successful S&T management is that it engages researchers on time bound, goal oriented research programmes commensurate with actual national needs. It creates an environment of positive competition among researchers in Universities and research institutions which is essential to induce innovation. Creation of links between industry and S&T institutions and Universities is a very important cornerstone of a successful S&T management model. The national S&T management system should create an atmosphere of autonomy and freedom conducive to creative work and innovation. But this does not mean that S&T professionals should not be held accountable. Indeed accountability and transparency is an integral part of any good S&T management system.

Bangladesh is now at a crossroads in its history. It is time to have a strategic, long term vision regarding our future. S&T is an area which requires foresight that goes beyond the horizon. It requires politicians and decision makers to elevate themselves to the level of statesmen. With our economy poised to grow at above six percent, the country requires a solid S&T base to support industrialisation and to be in a position to start making meaningful investment in this area. What is needed now is commitment at the highest levels to institute a comprehensive action plan for a national S&T programme.

In the run up to the next general election, the S&T community has to make their case to all political parties and convince them to give S&T issues due importance in their election manifesto. Different S&T professional societies like Bangladesh Association for the Advancement of Science, The Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, and other professional bodies for physical, agricultural, biological, medical, earth, and social sciences should come together to initiate national debate on how this country should proceed in creating its own S&T base. S&T leaders have to be engaged in convincing the politicians, decision makers, and other stakeholders that S&T expenditure does pay back in the long run. The civil society also has a big role to play in developing nation-wide awareness, thereby creating conditions favourable to S&T in this country. Science indeed has the power to give a lot to the society. But for science to serve the society, society has to serve science first.

Dr. ASMA Haseeb is professor, Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, BUET.