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.
