Speakers, including academicians and intellectual property specialists stressed on the intellectual property awareness and its benefits the inaugural ceremony of a four-day national workshop on Sunday.
The World Intellectual Property Organisation has organised the workshop in cooperation with the Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks of the industries ministry and the Faculty of Fine Art of Dhaka University with the assistance of the Japan Patent Office at the Osman Jamal Auditorium of the FFA.
Dhaka University vice-chancellor ASM Maksud Kamal was present as chief guest and inaugurated the workshop titled ‘Intellectual Property Fundamentals for Brand Designing’.
‘This is the era of innovation, new concept and innovative product,’ said ASM Maksud Kamal, adding, ‘Branding and innovation is correlated. If we have something new, we have to do branding of the product. Otherwise it is difficult to bring new product in the market.’
Addressing the participants of the workshop, ASM Maksud Kamal said that the workshop would provide new knowledge related with intellectual property.
‘When you come up with something new, that is the time you have to protect the idea,’ said ASM Maksud Kamal.
Multilateral Economic Affairs Wing of foreign affairs ministry director general Faiyaz Murshid Kazi and Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks director Kaisir Mohammad Moinul Hasan were present as special guests at the inaugural ceremony.
‘For ensuring intellectual property protection, DPDT provides patents for new inventions,’ said Kaisir Mohammad Moinul Hasan, adding, ‘Bangladesh is graduating from least-developed country to a developing country in 2026, which will be a unique achievement of Bangladesh. Intellectual property protection is one of the major challenges that we have face in getting this unique achievement.’
‘Inventors should be protected through proper protection of intellectual property,’ mentioned Kaisir Mohammad Moinul Hasan, adding that awareness of intellectual property is crucial for its protection and for the benefit of the inventor.
Intellectual property not only protects the rights of the inventors but also accelerates overall development of a country said Faiyaz Murshid Kazi.
Besides the economic benefit of intellectual property, it provides recognition to the inventor, said Faiyaz Murshid Kazi, adding that there is a process to get intellectual property protection and it is important know the process.
Division for Asia and the Pacific of WIPO director Andrew Michael ONG was present as guest of honour at the ceremony, which was chaired by Dhaka University fine arts faculty dean Nisar Hossain.
The four-day workshop for Dhaka University students, faculty and alumni is featuring speeches, open discussions and others on diverse topics related with intellectual property.
The opening day of the workshop featured speeches titled ‘Intellectual Property as Legal, Business and Development tool: the WIPO Perspective’ by Pushpendra Rai, ‘Introducing the National IP System of Bangladesh’ by DPDT assistant director Md Belal Hossain, ‘Examples of National Trademarks in Bangladesh: Demonstrating Distinctiveness of Marks in Text, Stylised, Graphics, Logo, Taglines, Slogans, et cetera’ by DPDT deputy director Md Shafiqul Islam and others.
The workshop will end on June 5.
