Indian envoy urges Bangladeshi ICCR scholars to strengthen bilateral ties
High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi congratulated the latest cohort of Bangladeshi recipients of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) scholarships and encouraged them to serve as bridges between Bangladesh and India at a send-off ceremony in Dhaka on 4 August.
He made the remarks at a send-off ceremony hosted by the High Commission of India in Dhaka on 4 August for students selected for the scholarships for the 2026–27 academic year, according to a press release.
Dinesh urged the scholars to make the most of their opportunity to study in India by excelling in their fields, exploring the country and forging lasting friendships.
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More than 120 students attended the ceremony at the High Commission premises and will soon travel to India to pursue undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral courses in disciplines ranging from engineering and pharmacy to fine arts and music at some of the country's leading institutions.
This year, 541 students from across Bangladesh have received ICCR scholarships. Of them, 500 were awarded the prestigious Subarno Jayanti Scholarship to pursue undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral courses in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) as well as non-STEM disciplines.
Another 38 students received the Lata Mangeshkar Dance and Music Scholarship to study dance, music and other culture-related subjects in India, while three students were awarded ICCR's Quad Scholarship to pursue undergraduate STEM courses.
More than 7,700 applications were submitted from across Bangladesh this year. The 541 recipients were selected after proficiency tests and interviews conducted by the High Commission of India in Dhaka and India's assistant high commissions in Bangladesh.
Addressing the scholars, Dinesh said only 6% of applicants had secured scholarships and added that India was ready to welcome them with open arms. He said studying there would offer them an opportunity to experience the country's diversity.
He also thanked the recipients' parents for nurturing the young scholars and placing their trust in India as a destination for higher education.
The ICCR Scholarship is a flagship programme of the Government of India that enables meritorious Bangladeshi nationals to pursue undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral courses at leading Indian institutions.
The scholarships cover disciplines including engineering, science, literature, humanities and fine arts.
The fully funded programme provides students with opportunities to study at institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology, the National Institutes of Technology, the University of Delhi, Visva-Bharati University, the University of Mumbai, and Anna University.
Recipients are not required to pay tuition or other university fees, and they also receive a monthly stipend from the ICCR to cover their living expenses.
