Md. Bakhtiar Uddin

After years of discussions, assurances and uncertainty, the much-talked-about Ninth National Pay Scale has finally been approved.

In its demographic transition, Bangladesh has reached a stage where its working-age population exceeds its dependent population in size—a phenomenon known as the demographic dividend.

The UGC has decided to centralise research grants that were previously allocated directly to public universities, arguing that a single funding mechanism will reduce duplication, improve accountability, and focus on national priorities.