The Prime Minister's Fellowship for the financial year 2024-25 has been cancelled, leaving many recipients in a difficult situation. The Governance Innovation Unit of the Chief Adviser’s Office has informed those who were awarded the fellowship about the cancellation via email. This sudden decision has caused concern among those who were preparing to study abroad with the fellowship's support.
Mohammad Abdul Latif, Director General of the Governance Innovation Unit, confirmed the cancellation. He mentioned that a decision about the next steps will be made soon.
The cancellation has particularly affected those who had already completed various preparations, including visa applications and document collection. Some recipients had even received their visas and were scheduled to start their studies in September. With all their preparations finalized, they are now facing uncertainty and confusion about their future plans.
The Prime Minister’s Fellowship was intended to support Bangladeshi citizens in pursuing Master's degrees or PhDs abroad, with several eligibility conditions. For instance, government servants could only apply if their employment was permanent, and private candidates could not apply if they had already completed a Master’s degree abroad.
The fellowship prioritized studies in areas such as finance, public health, education, environment, and ICT, among others. It was designed to support human resource development to help build a developed and smart Bangladesh.
The sudden cancellation has left recipients waiting for further instructions, unsure of what actions to take next. The government is expected to provide further information soon, but for now, the affected individuals remain in limbo, unsure of how to proceed with their academic and career plans.
