University Grants Commission (UGC) today approved a budget of Tk 10,032 crore for 49 public universities of the country for 2021-22 fiscal year.

Of the amount, the size of revenue budget is Tk 5,875 crore and the development budget is Tk 4,157 crore, UGC said in a statement.

Last year, the UGC approved Tk 8,485 crore budget for public universities. Which means the budget increased by Tk 1,548 crore this year. Dhaka University got the highest allocation and Habiganj Agriculture University got the lowest allocation this year.

The UGC also approved Tk 100.74 crore for research support in the upcoming fiscal year. The figure increased by Tk 34 crore in comparison to the outgoing fiscal year.

The commission approved the budget at its 158th meeting held virtually with UGC Chairman Professor Kazi Shahidullah in the chair.

Kazi Shahidullah said that if the universities spend money in basic and pragmatic research, then reaching an honourable position in international ranking will be possible.

UGC members Prof Dil Afroza Begum, Prof Sazzad Hossain, Prof Muhammed Alamgir, Prof Biswajit Chanda and Prof Abu Taher along with others joined the virtual meeting.

UGC acting secretary Ferdous Zaman placed the budget at the meeting.