The government has decided not to include 1,719 private educational institutions in the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) scheme, despite their inclusion in a previously finalized list by the interim administration. Under the new decision, the earlier list will undergo a full re-evaluation, and fresh applications will be accepted. Both old and new applications will then be assessed together to prepare a final list.
According to officials from the Ministry of Education and the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, the earlier verification process covered 3,615 applications in just eight working days, averaging 452 institutions per day, which was deemed impractical. The ministry sources said the decision followed controversy and allegations of major financial transactions surrounding the earlier list. The Education Ministry had earlier sought 670 crore taka from the Finance Ministry on February 5 to fund the MPO inclusion.
Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan stated that the previous list has not been canceled but will be re-evaluated alongside new applications, with final action depending on budget approval.