BRAC University honors 17 scholars for research excellence

BRAC University has continued to recognize researchers for a third year in a row, this time presenting the “Quality Journal Publication Award 2026” to 17 “Top 2% BRACU Researchers” for publishing in journals ranked within the global top 2% of the Q1 category.

A total of 228 Q1 journal articles have been recognized through the award presentation ceremony at the Merul Badda campus in Dhaka today (Tuesday, 25 August 2026).

In comparison, 145 were recognized last year, meaning there has been an impressive 57% increase year-on-year. 

Among this year’s research, 124 publications are in journals ranked within the top 10% of their respective subject categories, while a further 104 are within the remaining 15% of Q1 journals.

The research of the awardees encompassed a myriad of contemporary issues, such as why microfinance institutions charge higher interest rates than banks and a generalized multi-manufacturer, multi-retailer production-delivery supply chain model and its minimum cost solution policy.

Research initiated at BRAC University in recent years has garnered accolades and continues to draw relevance to this day, be it in Bangladesh or beyond.

Of the 21,919 publications made from Bangladesh in 2025, some 4.1% were from BRAC University, said Professor Malay Kanti Mridha, director of the Central Research and Innovation Office, at the event.

Research on the readymade garment sector helped determine periods for wage reviews and provide a clear definition of middle management, said Professor Samia Huq, 
dean of the School of General Education.

BRAC University is enhancing industry and national capacity, such as through a video-processing research project funded by Samsung R&D Institute Bangladesh and 8 advanced IC courses under ADP-supported Skills for Industry Competitiveness and Innovation Program, said Associate Professor Sadia Hamid Kazi, chairperson of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.

Research outcomes of the BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health are now used by the Directorate General of Health Services to monitor non-communicable diseases and helped launch national model pharmacies, said the school’s dean, Dr. Laura J Reichenbach.

Research and teaching should run simultaneously as students should also be engaged in creating knowledge, said Professor Masuma Habib, member of the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh, as the special guest. 

Chief guest Abdul Khaleque, secretary to the Secondary and Higher Education Division, Ministry of Education, said the research patterns indicate that BRAC University would be the leading educational institution of the future.

“We are used to drawing knowledge from outside, but we have our own BRAC, a huge repository of knowledge,” said Professor Syed Ferhat Anwar, adding that engaging in research synergy was a prerequisite to disseminating this knowledge throughout the world. 

Registrar Dr. David Dowland gave the welcome speech, whereas the closing speech was made by Professor AKM Abdul Malek Azad, chairperson of the Research Metrics Committee, which organized the event as a part of the university's ongoing 25th anniversary celebrations under the theme "Promoting Research Excellence."

The event was also attended by Lady Syeda Sarwat Abed, Advisor to BRAC Institute of Languages, Professor Emeritus AFM Yusuf Haider of the University of Dhaka, and senior academic and administrative leaders of BRAC University.