TBM Report ||
The University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh has announced a comprehensive plan to scale up higher education research, increasing PhD and postdoctoral fellowships to establish a sustainable academic ecosystem. Speaking at the 179th full commission meeting on Monday, August 31, 2026, UGC Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed confirmed that the commission will seek special government allocations to fund advanced academic research across public and private universities.
Under the new drive, the UGC has expanded its internal PhD scholarships from 75 to 100, targeting a gradual increase to 500 starting next fiscal year. Opportunities for overseas PhD programs have also jumped from 10 to 35. Professor Ahmed highlighted that broadening domestic and foreign research access remains essential to resolve the shortage of qualified faculty members across the country’s higher education sector.
The commission officially approved the “UGC Promotional and Academic Staff Development Research Project Policy, 2026” during the session. The chairman stressed that research must move beyond academic journal publications to address real-world economic and industrial challenges. To achieve this, the UGC plans to facilitate direct collaboration between universities and commercial enterprises.
Future funding allocation will strictly prioritize performance, institutional capability, and practical outcomes. Universities demonstrating measurable contributions to the knowledge economy will receive priority funding to upgrade their research infrastructure and laboratory facilities.
UGC Secretary Dr. Md. Fakhrul Islam presented the working papers at the meeting, which was attended by commission members Professor Dr. Masuma Habib, Professor Md. Mehedi Hasan Khan, Professor Dr. Md. Aslam Hossain, and Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmed Chowdhury.
Vice-Chancellors from several public universities also joined the deliberations, including Professor Dr. Mohammad Mosharaf Hossain of Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Professor Dr. M. Atiqur Rahman of Chandpur Science and Technology University, Professor Dr. Asaduzzaman Sarkar of Khulna Agricultural University, Professor Dr. Md. Shoukat Ali of Begum Rokeya University, Professor Dr. Mohammad Zakir Hossain of Sunamganj Science and Technology University, and Professor Dr. Md. Ziaur Rahman Chowdhury of Sylhet Medical University. The official release was signed by Mohammad Jaminur Rahman, Director (Additional Charge) of UGC’s Public Relations and Publication Division.
 of Bangladesh has announced a comprehensive plan to scale up higher education research, increasing PhD and postdoctoral fellowships to establish a sustainable academic ecosystem. Speaking at the 179th full commission meeting on Monday, August 31, 2026, UGC Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed confirmed that the commission will seek special government allocations to fund advanced academic research across public and private universities.){kind=link}