Dhaka: The University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh member Professor Dr. Masuma Habib today urged the interim government to increase the budgetary allocation for the education sector in the next fiscal year to conduct quality research and build the necessary infrastructure. "The budget allocation for the education and research sector must be increased to build world-class universities," she said while speaking as the chief guest at the research proposal evaluation workshop.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the UGC's Research and Grants Management Division organized the workshop at the commission's auditorium. Professor Masuma Habib highlighted that the interim government's chief adviser and education adviser were university teachers, expressing hope that they would play a positive role in increasing the budgetary allocation for the education sector. She emphasized the importance of engaging the new generation in research-based education and requested the government to restart travel grants for university teachers to attend international conferences.
Professor Masuma Habib also urged project evaluators to select research projects that benefit the country and its people. She advised researchers to implement projects within the stipulated time to ensure proper utilization of public money. The program was presided over by Dr. Ferdous Zaman, Director of the UGC's Research and Grants Management Department, while Additional Director Mohammad Kabirul Hasan also spoke at the event. UGC Senior Assistant Director Biswanath Biswas moderated the program, which saw senior teachers and researchers from various public universities evaluating project proposals taken during the 2023-24 fiscal year.