News Flash
DHAKA, Aug 26, 2025 (BSS) - University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh Chairman Professor Dr SMA Faiz today said cent percent transparency and accountability are being ensured in evaluating Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) project.
He made the remarks at the signing ceremony of sub-project selection process of HEAT project and implementation of it at UGC auditorium here.
Professor Faiz said the UGC has ensured all kinds of initiatives in terms of transparency and accountability in the evaluation of various sub-projects of HEAT.
He told reporters that he regularly follows up on every step of the project evaluation.
The UGC Chairman said, “Before joining the UGC, I have served as the Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University and Chairman of the Public Service Commission with honesty and devotion.”
He expected constructive criticism from journalists and higher education stakeholders.
Dr Faiz further said that there is no opportunity to submit sub-project proposals individually in the HEAT project. The sub-project proposals have been submitted by the teachers with the approval of the academic committee and vice-chancellor of their respective universities, he added.
As a result, he said, it is not within the jurisdiction of the UGC to look at the political ideology of the applicant in the selection of project proposals. The projects have been evaluated by impartial reviewers and qualified teachers and researchers of the university.
He also said that the interests of the country and the nation have been considered in the selection of sub-projects.
UGC members Professor Dr Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan, Professor Dr Mohammad Anwar Hossain, Professor Dr Md Saidur Rahman, Professor Dr Machuma Habib, Professor Dr Mohammad Ayub Islam, among others, were present at the event.
HEAT Project Director Professor Dr Asaduzzaman highlighted the progress of the project implementation and various aspects of the sub-project selection process.
UGC Secretary Dr. Md. Fakhrul Islam, department heads and relevant officials of HEAT and UGC were present at the press conference.
It is mentionable that agreements will be signed between UGC and universities for the implementation of the selected 151 sub-projects tomorrow. The cost of the five-year HEAT project to improve the quality of higher education in the country has been estimated at Taka 4,016 crore 57 lakh. Bangladesh government will bear 50.96 percent of the total project cost while the World Bank will bear the remaining 49.4 percent.
The project includes formulating a market-based curriculum, improving the quality of higher education and increasing digital connectivity of educational institutions, establishing teacher training systems and training academies, increasing the capacity of BDREN, accelerating the activities of the Bangladesh Accreditation Council, establishing an innovation lab, launching innovative projects for competitive research.
