Pakistan announces 500 scholarships for Bangladeshi students
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan announces 500 scholarships for Bangladeshi students in the first phase of a newly launched educational initiative aimed at strengthening academic and cultural ties between the two countries.
According to official details, Pakistan and Bangladesh have reached a significant agreement in the education sector, allowing Bangladeshi students to pursue higher studies at Pakistani universities under a fully funded scholarship programme. The initiative marks a major step in expanding bilateral cooperation in education.
Under the first phase, 500 Bangladeshi students will be admitted to undergraduate programmes at various public and private universities across Pakistan. The scholarships will cover tuition fees and other essential academic costs, enabling students to study in multiple cities nationwide.
A large number of Bangladeshi candidates participated in the selection process, which included entrance examinations conducted by Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC) in Chittagong, Dhaka, and Rajshahi. Officials said the high level of participation reflected growing interest among Bangladeshi youth in Pakistani higher education institutions.
The scholarship scheme has been named the Allama Iqbal Scholarship, in honour of the renowned philosopher and poet, symbolising the shared cultural and intellectual heritage of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Authorities said the programme is expected to expand in future phases.
Pakistan and Bangladesh, geographically separated by more than 1,500 kilometres by India, were once part of a single country before separating following the 1971 war. In recent months, both nations have taken steps to improve diplomatic, economic, and people-to-people relations.
In a related development, Bangladesh and Pakistan are set to resume direct air connectivity after more than a decade. Dhaka’s national carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, announced that it will relaunch direct flights between Dhaka and Karachi starting January 29.
The airline said the Dhaka–Karachi route will operate twice weekly, marking the first regular direct flights between the two countries since 2012. Officials described the move as another sign of warming ties and improving regional cooperation.
