Dhaka University (DU) authority has announced an operating budget of Tk. 945.15 crore for the 2024-25 fiscal year, while only Tk. 20 crore has been allocated for the research sector.
The annual budget session organised at the university's Nawab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban on June 26. Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. ASM Maksud Kamal presided over the session while Treasurer prof. Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed announced the budget.
In the proposed budget, the University Grants Commission (UGC) will get Tk 804.41 crore, while its own income has been estimated Tk 90 crore. The deficit will be Tk 50 crore 74 lakh 45 thousand, which is 5.37 percent of the estimated expenditure.
In the budget, Salaries, allowances and pensions Tk 633.32 crore has estimated which is 67% of the total expenditure, while research grants Tk 20.5 crore, which is 2.12% of the total expenditure.
The previous year's budget was Tk 913.89 crore. With an increase of 59.15.91 crore, the revised budget stands at 973.578 crore.
In the revised budget, the grant from the University Grants Commission (UGC) has been estimated Tk 776.68 crore and income Tk 891.68 crore, including Tk 90 crore as own income. As a result, the deficit is only Tk 81.37 crore 78 thousand, which is 8.36% of the total estimated expenditure.
Mentioning that Dhaka University did not get enough allocation for the new fiscal year, the treasurer said,“The demand from the University Grants Commission was 1131 crore 17 lakh 14 thousand Taka. BIMCA has allocated only Tk 804.41 crore. The amount of allocation is Tk 326.76 crore 14 thousand less than the demand”.
“UGC has allocated us Tk 326 crore less than the requirement in almost every sector. On the other hand, the University's own income has been hypothetically overstated,” he stated.
He also said, “At present, less number of students are being admitted in different departments than before. Tuition fees have not been increased. In the fiscal year 2023-2024, Tk 85 crore has been shown as its own income. At the end of the year, Tk 90 crore was shown in the revised budget. In the next fiscal year, it has been increased to Tk 94 crore. We do not understand how this increase in income was determined by UGC.
Tk 20 crore is not enough for the research, he said, “ Tk 20 crore has been allocated for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, which is Tk 5 crore more than the 2023-2024 fiscal year and Tk 5 lakh has been allocated for initiating budget session”, he added.
He emphasise that more than 2,000 teachers are working in the university and Tk 1 lakh has been earmarked for each of them.
"We hear a lot of discussions about university rankings. To improve this ranking, it is necessary to increase various opportunities for research and innovation. I believe that if the budget allocation to this sector is increased substantially, we will get the desired results”, he stated.
Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor ASM Maksud Kamal said that for more than 100 years since its establishment, Dhaka University has been expanding higher education in the region by combining humanities, basic and applied education. So far, this university has provided higher education to about 33 lakh students.
To achieve the demographic dividend, it is necessary to create skilled and up-to-date human resources in the use of human resources and technology. We have prepared an Academic Development Plan and Physical Master Plan for this purpose.
"If these initiatives, including these two plans, are implemented, Dhaka University will reach a unique common position on the world education map,” he stated in budget Session.
