৩.
China is a good example of how planned reverse brain drain can have a positive effect on a country. China did not have access to the International Space Station jointly built by many countries! Did not mean, they were not allowed to enter! That China now owns its own space station, and they did it all alone! Can it be thought? China's higher education institutions are now among the best in the world. Yet many of their graduates are scattered across research labs around the world, gathering knowledge. If necessary, China is taking those talented people back to their own country. As part of this, 'Thousand Talents Program (TTP)' or 'Overseas High-Level Talent Recruitment Program!' What could be a better example of technology transfer? I remember Donald Trump took a tough stance against China after he came to power. He claims that China is stealing American technology. How? Trump's explanation was not false! But the real truth is that education-knowledge-science is something that can be achieved if there is desire. Today's world is very open. But that desire must be sincere. The same has happened in China. The reality is that without Chinese researchers, many research institutions in developed countries are practically stagnant. Even in America! Chinese scientists are working at NASA, Elon Musk's company. Basically, they are playing a significant role in all the prestigious universities and research institutes in America. And they went there to prove their worth. What China is doing is bringing these talents back and providing a similar environment in the country. As a result, naturally, this talent is being used in China. Yes, China is doing this and the results are coming. 50 years ago today, China's economic situation was worse than ours! Today, China is rapidly advancing towards world leadership in education, research and military. Our neighbor India is walking the same path, albeit somewhat erratically. They are spread in different parts of the world. The abundance of Indian students in higher education institutions and research labs of various countries is noticeable. I think India will be much stronger in the next decade. The main reason for this is not their mineral wealth but their silent educational revolution.
Is there any such plan for our country? Can we decide how much importance will be given to education in Bangladesh in the future? No development is sustainable without improvement in education. Therefore, the main goal of the new government should be to build an educated Bangladesh with proper education.
*Author: Badruzzaman Khokon, Postdoctoral Researcher, Viral Vaccine Research and Development, National Health Research Institute, Taiwan
