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Third Workshop of the IBO Training Program

    March 27, 2022
    9:30 am - 5:00 pm
    Hotel Sarina
    Dhaka, Bangladesh

The Agriculture & Food Systems Institute (AFSI), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of Bangladesh, under the auspices of the South Asia Biosafety Program (SABP), is conducting a series of workshops targeting Institutional Biosafety Officers (IBOs) and Committees (IBCs) at research institutions engaged in biotechnology research and development in Bangladesh. The purpose of this by-invitation-only workshop series is to ensure that institutions in Bangladesh are aware of their obligations under the biosafety regulatory system and are empowered to work with researchers to meet these obligations while continuing their research.

The introductory workshop was held on December 2, 2021. The discussion on biosafety compliance while working with genetically engineered organisms continued during the second workshop, which was held virtually on February 17, 2022. The third IBO workshop focused on capacity building exercises for IBOs and IBCs, covering additional topics including the development of standard operating procedures for greenhouse work, key considerations for containment of GE crops, and key components for record keeping, handling, storage, transfer, shipment, and disposal of GM plant material. Compliance for import, exchange, and research involving GM crops was also discussed.

Speakers

Rakha Hari Sarker, Ph.D.
Country Coordinator South Asia Biosafety Program (SABP)
Andrew Roberts, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer Agriculture & Food Systems Institute (AFSI)
Aparna Islam, Ph.D.
Professor Brac University
Bhavneet Bajaj, Ph.D., PMP
Senior Manager, Scientific Programs Agriculture & Food Systems Institute (AFSI)
Sium Ahmed
Deputy Manager South Asia Biosafety Program (SABP)
Vibha Ahuja, Ph.D.
Senior Advisor South Asia Biosafety Program (SABP)

Agenda

9:00 am

Registration

10:00 am

Welcome

Dr. Rakha Hari Sarker, Country Coordinator, SABP & Professor, Dhaka University, Bangladesh

10:10 am

Recap of the First and Second IBO Workshops

Dr. Andrew Roberts, Chief Executive Officer, AFSI

10:25 am

Institutional Commitment for Biosafety Compliance: Biosafety Policy and Tools

Dr. Aparna Islam, Professor, Brac University, Bangladesh

10:55 am

Laboratory Facilities and Greenhouse/Net House: Key Considerations for Ensuring Containment of GE Plants

Dr. Bhavneet Bajaj, Manager – Scientific Programs, AFSI

11:25 am

Tea Break

11:50 am

Management of GE Plants in Laboratories and Greenhouses/Screen Houses: Introducing Key Components for Preparation of SOPs & Group Exercise

Dr. Andrew Roberts, Chief Executive Officer, AFSI

1:30 pm

Lunch

2:30 pm

Preparation of Recording Formats: Key Components

Dr. Vibha Ahuja, Senior Advisor, SABP & Chief General Manager, Biotech Consortium India Ltd.

3:00 pm

Ensuring Biosafety During Handling, Storage, Transfer, Shipment, and Disposal of GM Plant Material (to include incident management)

Mr. Sium Ahmed, Biosafety Officer, SABP

3:30 pm

Regulatory Compliance for Import, Exchange, and Research Involving GM Crops: Applications to Regulatory Authorities

Dr. Rakha Hari Sarker, Country Coordinator, SABP & Professor, Dhaka University, Bangladesh

4:00 pm

Group Exercise: Inter-Institutional Exchange of GM Materials

4:45 pm

“Ask Anything” - Q&A Session and Next Steps

5:00 pm

Adjourn (tea served)