Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud expressed concern over bureaucratic control on university researchers, stating that despite limited resources, many academics continue their research in silence. “Agriculture remains a vital research area in the country,” he added.

He noted that no previous government has appointed administrators to nearly 50 public universities in such a short span. “This time, appointments were made based on academic profiles, research, and merit — not political affiliations,” he said.

Responding to criticism about the lack of innovation in the national budget and inadequate allocations for education and research, Wahiduddin said, “We’re forced to continue with conventional budgets because we cannot abandon ongoing development projects to fund new ones in education and research.”