Bangladeshi Academic Delegation Signs 20+ MoUs with Pakistani Institutions, Ushering in New Era of Bilateral Collaboration
Delegation Hails ‘Historic’ Visit as 100 Scholarships Announced for Bangladeshi Students
Islamabad: A high-level academic delegation from Bangladesh has successfully concluded a week-long visit to Pakistan, culminating in the signing of over 20 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with leading Pakistani universities and industry partners. The visit marks a pivotal moment in strengthening academic, scientific, and industrial cooperation between the two nations.
The seven-member delegation—comprising vice chancellors and senior officials from top Bangladeshi universities—visited Pakistan from June 16 to 21, 2025, at the invitation of the OIC Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH). Their itinerary included visits to premier academic institutions in Lahore, Islamabad, and Murree, particularly member universities of the COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence (CCoE).
The MoUs span a broad range of collaborative initiatives, including faculty and student exchanges, joint research projects, conference organization, infrastructure sharing, academic cooperation, and PhD fee waivers. These agreements are expected to catalyze long-term partnerships and strengthen regional academic integration.
One of the most significant outcomes of the visit was an agreement signed with Gourmet Foods, providing industrial internship opportunities for Bangladeshi students. This initiative aims to foster practical skill development and reinforce academia-industry linkages.
The delegation was warmly hosted at various receptions, including by Dr. Chaudhary Abdul Rehman, Chairman of the Association of Private Sector Universities of Pakistan; H.E. Md. Iqbal Hussain Khan, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Pakistan; and Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General of COMSTECH. These events provided platforms for meaningful dialogue on enhancing cooperation in science, education, and innovation.
Describing the visit as “historic and highly productive,” the delegation expressed deep appreciation for the hospitality extended by their Pakistani counterparts. They commended COMSTECH for organizing the initiative and applauded the announcement of 100 scholarships for Bangladeshi students by COMSTECH and the University of Lahore.
This academic mission underscores COMSTECH’s dedication to fostering scientific excellence and inter-OIC collaboration, while also reaffirming the longstanding educational and cultural ties between Bangladesh and Pakistan.
