Bangladesh Increases Research Funding and Support for Students and Researchers
Bangladesh seeks to make universities more focused on research, innovation and solutions to national problems. To that end, the government is increasing research funding and expanding support for students and researchers.
In a Nutshell
- UGC Member Prof. Dr Abdullah Al-Mamun said the government is increasing funding to ensure academic research is translated into technology, products, services and policymaking.
- Faculty research grants have been increased from Tk 2.6–3 lakh to Tk 10 lakh, while direct financial support for student research is also being introduced.
- The number of PhD research scholarships has been increased from 15 to 100, with a target of reaching 500 next year.
- A Tk 500 crore innovation fund has been created, while collaboration units are planned for universities to strengthen links between higher education and industry.
- A Tk 150 crore allocation has also been made for establishing the country’s first Higher Education Training Institute.
Context
Speaking at an award ceremony at Dhaka University, UGC Member Prof. Dr Abdullah Al-Mamun said universities are expected to contribute to solving practical problems rather than limiting research to academic publications. Therefore, alongside increased research grants, support for PhD and postgraduate researchers at universities in Bangladesh is being expanded. Funding has also been allocated for innovation, teacher training and international activities, while university-industry collaboration units are planned within the next two years.
Why It Matters
Increased research funding creates greater scope for addressing issues that directly affect Bangladesh, such as energy, agriculture, climate change, public health, and technology. If taken into consideration, this may eventually help policymaking, industry, and public services in the country's development.
What We Think
The increased research funding and larger PhD programme are great initiatives. At the same time, it is important to remember that Bangladesh has long faced concerns about forged academic certificates and credentials, which raise questions about verification and accountability. Yet, no specific measures to verify genuine research participation or to ensure that funding reaches actively working students and researchers have been mentioned so far. That leaves an important question around how the authenticity and proper use of these opportunities will be maintained.