The University Grants Commission (UGC) has criticized the country's public universities for not conducting online classes and examinations properly ,even after being provided with the financial support, internet, and other facilities amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The university apex body came up with the assessment while inaugurating a day-long workshop on innovation and service facilitation held virtually on Sunday.
Last year, the commission allocated a maximum of Tk8,000 to each of the 41,501 students of 39 public universities as a loan to buy a device to attend online classes and examinations.
UGC member Prof Muhammed Alamgir said although the commission had allowed online classes and examinations at the beginning of the pandemic, the public university authorities could not conduct the academic activities and mitigate the losses due to their indecision.
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If the university authorities had taken the exams and class as per the UGC guideline, they would be ahead of the schedule despite the pandemic, he added.
In order to make Bangladesh a developed and prosperous country by 2041, importance must be given on higher education, innovations and research, Prof Alamgir further said.
Echoing the same, UGC Secretary (Additional Responsibilities) Ferdous Zaman said universities need to make people's lives easier through innovation.
The workshop was attended by 19 senior assistant directors and equivalent officers of the commission.