The budget of Dhaka University (DU), often referred to as the Oxford of the East, has decreased by Tk 13 crore to Tk 900 crore for the upcoming fiscal year 2024-25 compared to FY2023-24. However, the allocation for research has slightly increased, according to university data.
Analysing the data from FY21 to FY25, the total budget of DU increased by 16.23 per cent, while the allocation for research increased by 110.52 per cent, or more than twofold, during the same period.
In FY21, the university’s budget was Tk 774.28 crore, with a research allocation of Tk 9.5 crore, making up 1.23 per cent of the total budget. After five years, in FY25, the budget increased to Tk 900 crore, and the research allocation rose to Tk 20 crore, representing 2.22 per cent of the total budget.
Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof ASM Maksud Kamal said, "We have a Tk 900 crore budget for FY25. For the new fiscal year, the allocation for research is Tk 4.5 crore more compared to FY24. We want this amount to grow every year."
Students and teachers at the university are looking at the increased research funding positively but believe it should continue to rise in the coming years.
Asikur Rahman, a student from the Department of Sociology, said, "This is great news for the university and its students. I hope the budget will be utilised effectively."
Rakib Hossain, another student, told The Business Post, "Although the allocation is not large, it is a positive step for Dhaka University. I think the government should closely monitor this sector because strong research is essential for national development, and only universities can provide such impactful research. However, if research is not conducted properly, it may have adverse effects on the nation."
Prof Md Kamrul Hassan from the Department of Physics at Dhaka University, and a noted educationist in the country, said, "Dhaka University is the leading university in the country. Here, Tk 20 crore is not enough for research, but the increasing trend is very positive. Considering the exchange rate of the US dollar, Tk 20 crore is insufficient."
"Researchers, post-doctoral, and PhD programmes are crucial for the development of a university. Unfortunately, there are no post-doctoral programmes in any university in the country. If Dhaka University had 100 foreign post-doctoral fellows, the overall progress of the university would improve significantly," he added.
Dr Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan, a professor from the Department of International Relations at Dhaka University, said, "We need to consider how much benefit the country and the university will gain from research funding. The research allocation should be closely monitored to ensure it is not wasted."
