Bangladesh remains significantly behind its neighboring countries in terms of budget allocation for health research. Compared to India, Bangladesh’s budget in this sector is almost 19 times lower, and it is four times less than that of Sri Lanka.
These figures were revealed during a discussion session held on Saturday at the Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC) headquarters in Mohakhali, Dhaka. The keynote presentation was delivered by Professor Dr. Sayeba Akhter, Chairperson of BMRC.
She stated that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has an annual budget of $283.13 million, with a per capita allocation of $0.19. In contrast, BMRC’s total budget is only $1.82 million, which amounts to just $0.01 per person. Sri Lanka’s National Research Council (NRC) has a budget of $0.86 million, or $0.04 per capita.
“This extreme disparity is weakening Bangladesh’s research capacity and undermining its position in global competition,” said Dr. Sayeba.
The session also highlighted that interest in health research has grown significantly among students and researchers. In the current fiscal year (2025–26), a record 582 applications were submitted for student research grants—almost four times more than the 150 applications received in 2024–25.
A similar trend was observed in researcher grants, with 711 applications submitted this year, more than double the 306 applications from the previous year.
Dr. Sayeba noted, “The creation of a research-friendly environment in academic institutions, easier access to grants, and an overall increase in research enthusiasm are contributing to this trend. If this continues, we can expect higher-quality research in the country.”
The session emphasized the need for increased funding, long-term planning, policy prioritization, and infrastructure development in the research sector.
Chief Guest: Nurjahan Begum, Advisor, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Special Guests: Mahbub Alam, Additional Secretary (In charge), Health Education and Family Welfare Division; Professor Dr. Nazmul Hossain, Director General, Directorate General of Health Education.
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