Government Promises Unlimited Funds For Realistic Research
Science and Technology Secretary Md. Anwar Hossain has urged researchers to focus on sector-specific, high-impact projects instead of generic topics to accelerate the country's socio-economic development through technological innovation. Speaking as the chief guest at a special seminar held on Monday, June 9, 2026, at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novotheatre conference hall in Dhaka, he explicitly announced that the government will allocate unlimited funding based on demand for research projects capable of delivering practical and impactful results.
The seminar, titled "Information Sharing Seminar on Research Activities of Project Directors Awarded Grants under Research and Development (R&D) Projects in FY 2024-25," aimed to elevate research quality and transform technological findings into public welfare. Highlighting Vietnam's economic trajectory since the late twentieth century, the Science and Technology Secretary explained that despite lagging behind Bangladesh previously, Vietnam made monumental progress by heavily prioritizing technology and structural research. He emphasized that Bangladesh must capitalize on sectors where it holds a comparative advantage through advanced scientific exploration.
The event, presided over by Novotheatre Director General Mohammad Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan, featured a welcome address by Joint Secretary Sheikh Muhammad Tohidul Islam and research presentations from top academics. Professor Dr. Mohammad Nazmul Ahsan of Dhaka University's Genetic Engineering Department, Associate Professor Abdul Baset of Noakhali Science and Technology University, and Mahmud Sultana from Apex Footwear's Research Policy Department shared insights. Furthermore, Principal Scientist Dr. Rokeya Begum of Dhaka University, Associate Professor Md. Elias of Jagannath University, and researcher Tumpa Saha from the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission presented their tech-driven research papers via PowerPoint sessions.
To cultivate a scientifically minded nation, the Ministry of Science and Technology annually distributes R&D grants across four major technological groups: Biological & Medical Sciences, Applied Science & Engineering, Physical Science, and Agriculture & Environment. While conventional projects receive a maximum cap of 100,000 BDT each, the ministry expanded its scope in the 2024-25 fiscal year by providing a total of 29.7 million BDT across 346 approved research initiatives. Prominent university professors, tech innovators, policy officials, and engineering students attended the event to analyze the future of research infrastructure in Bangladesh.
//DBTech/ALM/MIM//
