University Grants Commission Chairman Mamun Ahmed on Saturday said research should focus on solving real-world problems rather than depending on age, expensive equipment or large laboratories.
He said research could begin by identifying problems in one’s surroundings and trying to solve them using available resources.
Mamun made the remarks while addressing the ‘Young Researchers Conference 2026’ as chief guest at the Teacher-Student Centre auditorium of Dhaka University.
A total of 318 students from Classes VII to X from different parts of the country took part in the conference, presenting 128 research papers, concept papers and posters.
Mamun said the idea that research should begin only at university level was incorrect.
He said the young researchers had worked on problems around them in areas including education, science, environment, computer science and social sciences.
They had used their own ideas and readily available materials in trying to find solutions, he added.
The UGC chairman stressed the importance of courage, enthusiasm, curiosity and scientific thinking among students pursuing research.
He said the ability to identify a problem and search for ways to solve it was at the heart of research.
Referring to research activities in Bangladesh, Mamun said the government and private organisations had invested heavily in research over the past five decades.
Many research papers had been published in international journals and researchers had received citations, he said.
However, many problems affecting people’s daily lives remained unresolved.
“Research papers have been produced, published in international journals and cited. But in many cases, the real problems people face have remained,” he said.
Mamun said this showed the need for a new approach to research.
He called for greater emphasis on identifying specific social, economic and environmental problems in Bangladesh and conducting research aimed at finding practical solutions.
The UGC chairman said the commission would consider funding proposals from researchers who identified specific problems and submitted projects aimed at solving them.
He said the UGC would also give importance to whether research outcomes actually resulted in practical solutions.
Mamun cited traffic congestion, electricity supply, access to safe drinking water and salinity as examples of problems requiring greater attention from researchers.
He said future scientists would have to come forward to address such challenges.
The scientists of tomorrow would emerge from among today’s young researchers, he added.
Addressing the participating. students, Mamun said: “You will be the ones to solve the problems around us.”
Dhaka University Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Administration Mohammad Al Mojadded Al Fesani, Faculty of Engineering and Technology Dean Upama Kabir and The Financial Express Planning Editor Asjadul Kibria spoke as special guests.
Chintar Chash Chairman Muhammad Shafiqul Rahman chaired the programme.
University teachers, students, young researchers, parents and schoolteachers attended the event.
Chintar Chash is a voluntary research organisation working to encourage school-level students to engage in research and to create an environment that supports research practice
