Daily Times

In a bid to promote bilateral educational relations, the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh has lifted the ban on Pakistani students.

According to Professor Saima Haque, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Admin), Pakistani students will now be allowed to enrol at Dhaka University. Bangladeshi students will also have the opportunity to pursue higher education in Pakistan.

The decision to lift the ban on Pakistani students was made to promote educational cooperation between the two countries. Professor Sayema Haque, confirmed on Monday that the decision will be implemented once DU’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan, signs the necessary documents. She added Vice-Chancellor is currently abroad.

According to Bangladesh media outlet the decision comes after DU received proposals from Pakistan for scholarships and seminars aimed at benefiting both DU teachers and students. Professor Haque noted that when the Vice-Chancellor presented these proposals to the syndicate, they were approved unanimously.

In a significant policy shift, the university has decided to reinstate academic exchanges, considering the interests of its students and faculty.

The ban on academic relations with Pakistan had been in place since December 14, 2015, when the DU syndicate, led by then-Vice-Chancellor Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique, decided to sever all ties with Pakistani institutions. Under the ban, DU had prohibited its students, teachers, and representatives from visiting Pakistani institutions and refused to accept any Pakistani delegations for academic purposes. The number of Pakistani students studying in the US has steadily increased in recent years, with graduates from American universities making impactful contributions to business, politics, and culture, US Ambassador to Islamabad Donald Blome said on Monday.

Speaking during the annual EducationUSA High Achievers’ and Counsellors’ Recognition Ceremony held during International Education Week, Blome shared insights from the State Department’s annual Open Doors Report.

According to the report, 10,000 Pakistani students enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree programmes in the US during the 2022-23 academic year, while in the following year, the number rose to 11,000, setting a new record. The number positioned Pakistan 16th globally in terms of student enrolment in the US. In his address, Blome emphasised the role of EducationUSA, the official source for free guidance on selecting universities, applying for scholarships, and preparing for studies in the US.