National
PM’s Fellowship 2023-24 Granted to 48 Scholars
A total of 48 scholars representing various fields have been awarded the prestigious Prime Minister’s Fellowship for the year 2023-24, enabling them to pursue advanced studies at renowned universities worldwide. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina personally bestowed the fellowship upon the recipients during a ceremony held at the Shapla Hall in her office. Out of the 48 scholars, 38 will pursue their Master’s degrees, while 10 will embark on Ph.D. programs at esteemed institutions in countries such as the USA, UK, Australia, and Canada.
Introduced in 2018, the Prime Minister’s Fellowship aims to enhance the knowledge and capabilities of individuals within the civil service, academia, and other qualified citizens of Bangladesh. Through this program, selected fellows are given the opportunity to study at esteemed international universities. To qualify for the PhD scholarship, applicants must first secure admission to one of the top 100 universities worldwide, based on their own merits. Similarly, applicants seeking the Master’s fellowship must obtain admission to one of the top 200 universities globally.
Since the inception of the fellowship program, a total of 239 Master’s fellows and 98 Ph.D. fellows have been granted the opportunity to pursue their higher education at prestigious universities abroad. The Governance Innovation Unit (GIU) of the Prime Minister’s Office manages the application process, requiring candidates to provide proof of admission before being considered for the scholarship.
During the ceremony, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain and PM’s Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah expressed their thoughts on the occasion. The Director General of the GIU, Dr. Mohammad Abdul Latif, delivered the welcome speech, and two previous fellowship recipients, Shibly Islam and Afifa Anjuman, along with Deputy Secretary of the Internal Resources Division AM Alamgir Kabir, shared their experiences of pursuing PhDs through this scholarship.
The Prime Minister’s Fellowship not only recognizes the academic excellence of these scholars but also underscores the government’s commitment to fostering intellectual growth and development in Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds at most places across the Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. Some areas may experience moderately heavy to very heavy rainfall, according to their latest weather bulletin released on Thursday.
Day and night temperatures are expected to remain nearly unchanged across the country.
The highest rainfall in the country over the past 24 hours was recorded in Kumarkhali, with 104mm of rain by 6 a.m. on Thursday.
The axis of the monsoon trough extends from India’s Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal to Assam, passing through Bangladesh, with one of its associated troughs stretching into the North Bay of Bengal.
The monsoon remains active over Bangladesh and moderate to strong over the North Bay region.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted that the mild heat wave currently affecting parts of the country, including the capital, is expected to subside in most areas within the next 24 hours, starting from 9 am today.
“A mild heat wave is sweeping across the divisions of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Sylhet, as well as the districts of Jashore, Chuadanga, and Kushtia. It is likely to ease in most regions,” the department reported.
In addition, BMD predicted light to moderate rainfall or thundershowers, accompanied by temporary gusty winds, across most of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. Some areas are expected to experience moderate to very heavy rainfall.
Temperatures across the country may drop by 1-2 degrees Celsius during both day and night.
On Monday, Dinajpur in the Rangpur division recorded the country’s highest temperature at 38.6°C, while Bandarban in the Chattogram division saw the lowest temperature at 24.6°C early today.
Meanwhile, rainfall recorded in the past 24 hours, ending at 6 am today, reached 66 mm in Nikli of Dhaka Division.
The sunset in Dhaka is at 5:53 pm today, and sunrise is expected at 5:49 am tomorrow.
Two separate murder cases were filed today in connection with the deaths of a private service holder and a Madrasa student during the anti-discrimination student movement.
The first case was lodged by Ridwan Ahmed with Panchlaish police station, accusing former ministers Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Barrister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel, and 127 others for the death of his nephew Sujan, 14. Sujan, the son of Belal Hossain from Beramara village in Noakhali’s Sadar Thana, was a student at Al Jamirul Hayat Madrasa in the city’s Chandgaon area. He was fatally shot in the Muradpur area on July 18.
The second case was filed by Jamal Uddin at Doublemooring police station, accusing 225 individuals, including Dr. Hasan Mahmud and Education Minister Barrister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel, for the killing of his elder brother Alam, a private service holder, on August 5.
