Inauguration of Germplasm Center at Habiganj Agricultural University

Inauguration of Germplasm Center at Habiganj Agricultural University
On Monday (25 August), a tree-planting program was held in front of Academic Building-1 at Habiganj Agricultural University to establish a Germplasm Center. On behalf of the Hafiza Khatun Memorial Trust and Krishan Foundation, the Foundations Chairman and eminent genetic scientist Dr. Abed Chaudhury donated genetic resources to initiate germplasm activities at Habiganj Agricultural University. These resources consist of traditional rice varieties from Greater Sylhet. Among them is the famous Kasalaath variety, which Dr. Chaudhury had previously restored. The collection also includes rice varieties developed by Dr. Abed Chaudhury such as K-4, K-6, K-11, K-14, black rice (local Sylheti variety), Paikeshwari (local Sylheti variety), Khasalaath (local Sylheti variety), Barosh (local Sylheti variety), Chengri (local Sylheti variety), traditional Sylheti Aman, and Abed Dhan (an Aman variety innovated by Dr. Chaudhury).
The donated seeds also include Methi Shim (fenugreek bean), black cowpea, Urd, mung bean, local cowpea, Goru Motor (field pea), aromatic greens, sesame, black mustard, Kaun (millet), yellow mustard, chia, flaxseed, jute (fiber crop), red maize, black maize, white maize, yellow maize, mixed maize, Kaun (Russell variety), local jute, buckwheat, sunflower, local black cowpea, local mixed cowpea, wild cherry tomato, peas, local hyacinth bean, local pigeon pea, ridge gourd, along with 94 agar saplings.
The innovator of the Panchabrihi rice variety and many others, Dr. Abed Chaudhury, primarily donated these genetic resources to Habiganj Agricultural University out of deep emotional attachment to his motherland. The Hafiza Khatun Memorial Trust, named after his mother Hafiza Khatun Chaudhury who was born in Habiganj, is the medium through which the trust is operated.
The germplasm activities were inaugurated by the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Dr. Syed Sayeem Uddin Ahmed. With the support of Krishan Foundation and Hafiza Khatun Memorial Trust, the university administration has undertaken the initiative to establish the Germplasm Center in order to further strengthen the universitys research activities.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Syed Sayeem Uddin Ahmed said that the germplasm activities are being initiated with the invaluable contributions of eminent genetic scientist Dr. Abed Chaudhury. This gift of significant crop genetic resources will play a vital role in accelerating future research in plant biology, genetic resource conservation, and crop botany.