The Jahangirnagar University authorities on Saturday announced its annual budget worth Tk318.44 crore for the financial year 2024-25, with Tk7.22 crore or 2.45% for research and innovation.
JU Treasurer Rasheda Akhter presented the budget at the university’s annual Senate session held at the Senate Hall. The session was chaired by Vice Chancellor Prof Nurul Alam.
This year, the size of the budget increased by Tk24.28 crore compared to the previous year's Tk294.16 crore.
This year, the allocation for research and innovation is 2.45% of the total budget. The allocation for primary medical service assistance is Tk45 lakh, which has increased by Tk2 lakh.
Professor Dr Md Motaher Hossain, a Senate member and the president of Jahangirnagar University Teachers’ Association, said: "We want world-class universities but allocation for research, primary medical services is insufficient. Research allocation must be increased for better position in university research quality and international ranking. Our main duty as university teachers is to practice research. On the other hand, to render primary medical service, we have to ensure proper allocation in the medical service sector as well."
The highest allocation in this budget is for salary and allowances which amounts to Tk189.87 crore. Last year, the allocation was Tk181.20 crore.
Treasurer Professor Rasheda Akhtar said: "There may be a revenue deficit of approximately Tk12 crore in the current financial year. A balanced budget has been formulated as per the guidelines of the University Grants Commision.”
JU VC Prof Dr Alam said: “In the current academic year, several memorandum of understandings (MoU) have been signed with different domestic and foreign institutions for bilateral education and research. As a result of the signing of these MoUs, opportunities and possibilities for education, research, and mutual cooperation between the university and related institutions have been created. I hope that using this opportunity, both institutions will play an important role in increasing the quality of research as well as in the welfare of the nation.”