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Bangladesh

UGC plans PhD support for 3,000 university teachers

The University Grants Commission plans to support at least 3,000 university teachers in obtaining PhDs over five years. It also outlined Tk1,200 crore in research grants under the HEAT project. The plans were announced at a training event on 14 October and reported the following day.

From 16 October 2026 — Daily Brief

16 OCT 2026 · 18

The University Grants Commission plans to help at least 3,000 university teachers obtain PhDs at home and abroad over the next five years.

UGC chairman Professor Mamun Ahmed outlined the proposal at a training event in Savar on the evening of 14 October. Reports published on 15 October also described plans for Tk1,200 crore in research grants under the Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation, or HEAT, project.

The commission aims to address a shortage of teachers with doctoral qualifications and strengthen research capacity. The chairman said the number of UGC PhD fellowships had increased by 40 per cent this year, with plans to raise it to 500 next year.

HEAT also envisages professional training for 5,000 teachers, alongside programmes to strengthen university leadership and administration.

The announcement came at the closing session of a six-day training programme involving 22 teachers from public and private universities. The PhD and research figures are programme plans, rather than a count of awards already made.

Bangladesh

Imranur and Shirin win national sprint titles amid timing confusion

Imranur Rahman and Shirin Akter retained the national 100-metre titles on 23 October. Published results list 10.53 and 12.08 seconds respectively, but reporters observed inconsistent timing displays. The wins stand in the reported results, while questions remain over the equipment and result-publication process.

Bangladesh

Fortis finish AFC campaign with 3–1 comeback win in Kuwait

Fortis FC came from behind to beat Tajikistan’s Regar-TadAZ 3–1 in Kuwait. Rafayel Tudu, Shian Kawasaki and Shuki Itofusa scored after the opponents went down to ten players. The Bangladesh club ended with three points, but earlier defeats had already ended its knockout-stage hopes.

Bangladesh

Kuakata tourism carnival opens with beach football and public events

Kuakata’s two-day tourism carnival began on 23 October with beach football, followed by kite flying and children’s activities. A marathon and traditional-cake festival are scheduled for Saturday. At the event, the planning state minister also outlined possible approval of the Bhanga–Barishal road-widening proposal.

Bangladesh

Dipu Moni sent to jail after remand in July uprising murder case

A Dhaka magistrate sent former minister Dipu Moni to jail after investigators completed a two-day remand in the Hafizul Shikder murder case. The case concerns a death during the July 2024 uprising. Friday’s ruling determines custody while the case proceeds and is not a conviction.

Bangladesh

Cox’s Bazar hotel fire prompts evacuation of about 300 guests

A fire in the parking and generator area of Cox’s Bazar’s Sea Princess Hotel forced about 300 guests to leave on 23 October. No injuries were reported. Fire officials suspect an electrical fault in the generator; the precise cause and damage remained to be established.

Bangladesh

Three volunteers killed in Faridpur bus–ambulance collision

Three volunteers returning to Magura from a workshop were killed in a bus–ambulance collision in Faridpur on 23 October. A local doctor reported three injured people transferred for further treatment; early accounts put injuries at four. Police seized both vehicles and said a case was being prepared.