Universities struggle to spend research budget – Report

Although teachers and students at universities have always complained about a research environment and financial inadequacy, almost the entire amount of allocation by the government each year remains unspent, writes Mamun Abdullah for the Dhaka Tribune.

The annual report data of the University Grants Commission in 2020 show that, out of 46 public universities, 38 universities have spent a total of Tk72.91 crore (US$8.5 million) in the research sector and out of 107 private universities, 77 universities have spent Tk111.73 crore on research. A similar picture was also projected in the 2019 report of the commission, with 125 universities of the country spending Tk153 crore on research. On average, expenditure at each university stood at Tk1.22 crore, meaning 1% of the total allocation.

In the 2019-20 fiscal year, placing priority on the research sector, the government allocated funds for public university teachers for purposes of research in science and technology, arts and humanities, social sciences, business studies and science and technology. However, a total of 35 universities did not spend any amount on research, while 125 public and private universities altogether spent only Tk153 crore of the total expenditures. About 50 universities did not bring out any publications throughout 2020, according to the commission report.
Full report on the Dhaka Tribune site