Md Nasir Uddin, Gazipur City

The Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) has officially launched the celebration of its glorious 50th anniversary. The inauguration took place on Tuesday (August 4) at the institute's headquarters, where Director General Dr. Md. Manjurul Kadir formally opened the Golden Jubilee celebrations by cutting a commemorative cake. Scientists, officers, employees, and staff members of the institute were present at the ceremony.

With the goal of increasing agricultural production, ensuring food and nutrition security, enhancing farmers' incomes, and creating employment opportunities, the institute conducts research and development on nearly 212 crops, including cereals, tuber crops, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, fruits, and flowers.

To date, BARI scientists have developed 681 high-yielding crop varieties (including hybrids), disease-resistant, and climate-resilient varieties, along with 692 modern production technologies.

Through the development of a total of 1,373 technologies, the institute has made remarkable contributions to increasing the production of oilseeds, pulses, potatoes, vegetables, spices, and fruits, playing a vital role in strengthening Bangladesh's food security and agricultural development.
August 4, 1976, marks a historic milestone in BARI's journey.

Through Presidential Ordinance No. 62, the late President Ziaur Rahman established BARI as a fully autonomous agricultural research institution. This landmark decision strengthened the institutional foundation of agricultural research in Bangladesh and enabled scientists to conduct research and innovation with greater independence. The initiative has made a far-reaching contribution to the country's agricultural sector by reinforcing agricultural research in pursuit of long-term food security and national development.

BARI's remarkable achievements over the past five decades demonstrate that visionary leadership, dedicated scientists, and effective institutional support can produce world-class accomplishments in agricultural research.

The institute's glorious legacy is expected to inspire future generations of scientists, policymakers, and farmers to build a more modern, innovative, and sustainable agricultural system.

Among those present at the inaugural ceremony were Dr. Reshma Sultana, Director (Training and Communication); Dr. Faruk Ahmed, Director (Research); Dr. Kawsar Uddin Ahammed, Director (Horticulture Research Centre); Dr. Nirmal Kumar Dutta, Director (Tuber Crops Research Centre); Dr. Habib Mohammad Naser, Director (Planning and Evaluation); Dr. Md. Mosharraf Hossain Molla, Director (Service and Supply), along with officials, employees, and workers from different divisions of the institute.