BINA, its chief scientist win IAEA awards

The Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) has received the “Outstanding Achievement Award” by United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for its outstanding contribution to mutation breeding.

Besides, Dr Shamsunnahar Begum, head and chief scientific officer, Department of Plant Breeding, BINA, has been awarded the “Women in Plant Mutation Breeding Award” for her outstanding contribution to plant mutation breeding and related biotechnology.

Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the IAEA in Vienna, Austria, formally presented the award to Muhammad Abdul Muhith, ambassador of Bangladesh to Austria, on Monday.

In every six-seven years, IAEA gives awards in three categories for outstanding contribution to mutation breeding among member states.

The three categories are -- Outstanding Achievements (Private or Institutional), Women Scientists Unique Contribution to Mutation Breeding and Young Scientists Awards.

This year, out of 173 member states of the IAEA, 11 individuals or institutions in the first category, 10 women scientists in the second category and seven young scientists in the third category have received awards.

Earlier in 2014, BINA's current director general Dr Mirza Mofazzal Islam received the IAEA Outstanding Achievement Award in mutation breeding.

Dr Mirza Mofazzal said that BINA's scientists have so far developed a total of 117 high yielding and improved varieties, including 83 mutant varieties of 18 different crops, using mutation breeding, conventional breeding and other advanced techniques through peaceful use of nuclear energy.

In recognition of all these contributions, BINA and its scientists have been awarded at various times by local and international organizations.