UGC approves Tk10,400 cr budget for 51 public universities

The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Monday approved a budget of Tk10,444.04 crore for 51 public universities in the country for 2022-23 fiscal year.

The budget for the public universities includes Tk6,023.60 crore of revenue expenditure and Tk4,420.44 crore of development outlay in favour of 40 projects, said a press release issued by the regulatory authority of the country's higher education.

In the main budget of Tk10515.71 crore, UGC has allocated Tk71.67 crore for itself. 

The approval came at a UGC meeting presided over by its Chairman Kazi Shahidullah.

UGC Members Prof Dil Afroza Begum, Prof Md Sazzad Hossain, Prof Muhammad Alamgir, Prof Bishwajit Chanda and Prof Md Abu Taher were also present at the meeting.

The commission allocated the highest revenue budget of Tk864.94 crore to Dhaka University and the lowest revenue budget of Tk3.83 crore for Sheikh Hasina Medical University, Khulna.

In the main budget, Tk150 crore was allocated for research purposes in higher education at public universities, which is Tk32 crore higher than in the previous year.

Regarding the increased allocation for research, UGC Member Prof Abu Taher said UGC's main goal is to ensure quality higher education in the country.

UGC is emphasising research and innovation, and is gradually increasing the budget for research, he added.

"For the first time, Tk10 crore has been allocated for public university teachers to pursue higher education abroad," he said, advising the authorities to properly utilise these efforts.

Members of the Bangladesh Planning Commission, officials of the finance ministry, and vice chancellors of universities, also attended the event.