DHAKA, June 27, 2026 (BSS) - Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon today stressed the need for ensuring the proper and transparent utilisation of public funds allocated to the education sector, saying no waste of government resources would be tolerated.  "We must properly utilise the education budget," he said while addressing the orientation programme for first-year students of the 2025-26 academic session at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) as the chief guest at the university's central auditorium. Chaired by BUET Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Eqramul Hoque, it was also addressed by Prime Minister's adviser on education, primary and mass education Dr Mahdi Amin and BUET Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Abdul Hasib Chowdhury as special guests. Highlighting increased government spending on education, the Education Minister said the current government has allocated the highest-ever budget for the sector, unlike the previous government which made only nominal allocations. He reiterated the government's commitment to gradually raise education spending from the current 2 percent of GDP to 5 percent, saying the government is prepared to increase budgetary allocations provided every penny is utilised with honesty and accountability. "There is little value in a larger education budget if we cannot even ensure minimum residential facilities for meritorious students who earn admission to higher education through fair competition," he said. The minister announced that the government would pay in a single instalment from the state exchequer the outstanding amount for the land allocated for BUET's Purbachal campus. He said BUET should not have to generate its own income to purchase land like a commercial institution, adding that the state would continue to support the university's academic expansion. Milon also urged BUET to establish an international and domestic alumni contribution fund similar to those of leading universities around the world. Emphasising the importance of nurturing the country's brightest minds, he said the government is determined to ensure that BUET students receive proper opportunities to realise their potential. To address the university's accommodation shortage and preserve the memory of a tragic chapter in its history, the minister said he would request Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to approve the construction of a new residential hall at BUET to be named after Abrar Fahad. He expressed optimism that the proposed hall would be built under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Deans of different faculties, department heads, provosts of residential halls, newly enrolled students and their guardians were present at the programme.