East West University hosted the Biotechnology Conference 2026, centered on the theme "Biotechnology for Bangladesh: Agriculture, Health, and Sustainability." The conference was jointly organized by the Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology and the EWU Biotech Club, with support from lead sponsor Kallol Group of Companies, co-sponsor ACI Limited, and partners including The Business Standard, MAMA, Biotech Concern, and Invent Technologies Ltd.
The event opened with a welcome address from Dr. Suraia Nusrin, Chairperson of the Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. Professor Haseena Khan, Fellow of the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences and Professor at the Asian University for Women, officially inaugurated the conference as Chief Guest. The ceremony also featured remarks from Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Shams Rahman and Event Chair Prof. Dr. Mohammed Farashuddin, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees.
Panel sessions throughout the conference covered advances across agriculture, environmental science, and human health. Experts including Prof. Dr. Zeba Islam Seraj, Prof. Dr. Md. Tofazzal Islam, and Dr. Jamilur Rahman discussed climate-resilient crop breeding, rice endophytes, and genome sequencing of local staples like jackfruit and hilsa. On the healthcare side, researchers Dr. Munirul Alam, Dr. Muhammad Manjurul Karim, and Dr. Md. Shawkat Hossain covered cholera transmission, antibiotic resistance, and local biosimilar pharmaceutical development.
The conference also featured student competitions, with awards given across the Biotechnology Olympiads for Junior and Senior divisions, Idea-Based and Research-Based Poster competitions, and the Bio Case Study Competition. The event concluded with a vote of thanks from Prof. Dr. Tariqur Rahman, who reaffirmed EWU's commitment to advancing research and innovation in Bangladesh's biotechnology sector.
