Australia offers 20 cholarships for CHT students a year

Australian High Commissioner Douglas Foskett and UNDP Resident Representative and UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Renata Lok Dessallien, signed an agreement on behalf of their respective sides in this regard at the Australian High Commission yesterday.

After signing the agreement, Douglas Foskett said, "This funding underscores Australia's strong commitment to supporting development and confidence-building in the CHT. Under this scheme, Australia will provide 100 scholarships to students from CHT over the next five years, at a cost of up to 10 million Australian dollars. Graduates of the programme will be able to make an important contribution to the development of one of the most needy regions of Bangladesh."

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Renata Lok Dessallien said, "This scholarship initiative will significantly enhance the role of CHT people in their own development. The area will reap many benefits when the returnees begin to play important leadership and technical roles within the CHT institutions and their own communities."

To be provided in collaboration with the UNDP-Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Facility (UNDP-CHTDF), the programme will offer 20 scholarships a year during 2006-10 for Masters, Bachelors and Certificate/Short Courses for indigenous young people.