Dhaka, Apr 26 (V7N)- Education Minister Dr. ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon has expressed concern over the country’s ongoing “brain drain,” stating that Bangladesh’s intellectual property is often being registered and trademarked abroad rather than domestically, which he described as a sign of administrative weakness.

He made the remarks at a World Intellectual Property Day event held at the University Grants Commission on Sunday morning.

The minister emphasized the need for a “reverse brain drain” to bring back talent and intellectual assets to the country. While noting that many students who studied abroad are returning, he said there is a lack of accurate data on how much talent is being lost.

He urged the government and relevant stakeholders to take stronger initiatives in this regard and mentioned that the Prime Minister has placed importance on linking sports with innovation.

Dr. Milon criticized the current allocation system, stating that although universities receive significant budgets, dedicated funding for research remains inadequate. He called for coordinated efforts between universities and the ministry to address this gap and referenced directives to allocate 5 percent of GDP to the sector.

Highlighting inefficiencies in the academic system, the minister pointed out a lack of coordination between public exams and university admissions.

He noted that while the HSC exams conclude around June–July and results are published by mid-October, university admissions begin only in January. This gap, he said, leads to a waste of valuable time for nearly 4 million students (SSC and HSC combined), negatively impacting the country’s demographic dividend.

He urged the UGC to work with universities to align admission processes and academic calendars.

The minister also voiced concern over the mindset of a segment of the youth population, stating that many tend to react impulsively without deep analysis. He warned that such attitudes could hinder research, innovation, and national progress, adding that the culture of seeking viral attention is becoming increasingly prominent.

Addressing concerns about exam integrity, Dr. Milon urged the public to ignore rumors of question paper leaks, stressing that such misinformation harms students and creates unnecessary panic. He called for cooperation from all to ensure a stable environment for learners.

END/SMA/AJ