Chinese government scholarship attracts large pool of applicants in Bangladesh

Sharmin Reja Chowdhury is a Pharmacy Faculty lecturer in Bangladesh's leading Dhaka University.

She has applied a Chinese government scholarship.

"I've applied for a PHD program at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Because I'm a pharmacist and my research topic is medicinal chemistry and medicinal plant," Chowdhury told Xinhua on Sunday shortly after her interview at the Chinese embassy in Dhaka.

"I think China is a very rich in medicinal plant and herbal medicine. So I want to continue my PHD on this topic. I love various type of traditional medicines also. So I have interest in this topic. I want to go to Shanghai. I went there (Shanghai) and I like the country which is very modern and safe also."

Like Chowdhury, hundred of Bangladeshi professionals and students are also now thronging Chinese embassy in capital Dhaka's diplomatic enclave Baridhara.

From a large pool of applications received, Chowdhury have been called for interviews.

Applicants include students, university teachers, government and non-government officials who are keenly interested in studying in China.

With the development of the ties between China and Bangladesh, more and more Bangladeshi students are going to study in China in the recent years.

A Chinese government full scholarship covers tuition fee, fee for basic learning materials, accommodation, living allowance, fee for outpatient medical service, Comprehensive Medical Insurance Plan of International Students in China under the Chinese government scholarship, a one-off settlement subsidy and a one-off inter-city travel allowance.

It also provides the international students round-trip or one-way international air ticket.

Answering to a question, the Dhaka University female teacher Sharmin Reja Chowdhury said, "We can travel at any time -- day or night -- (in China) and the transportation is very cheap. We can go anywhere by underground metro. And the people are very friendly."

"Though I can't speak Chinese they helped me (when I visited Shanghai). I like the people also."

Another applicant, Sanjay Kumar Shaha who teaches economics at Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, says he is also very keen to have an opportunity to study in China.

"I've applied for Chinese government scholarship. My major is economics. China is one of the fastest growing economy in the world."

"So who doesn't like to go to China?" he said.

China has been providing 162 full government scholarships to Bangladeshi students every year since 2013, and the Chinese government also offers many opportunities for short-term or long-term training every year.

In 2015, more than 400 Bangladeshi went to study in China under the sponsorship of the Chinese government.

Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong during her visit to Bangladesh in May last year pledged that the Chinese government would provide 100 more full scholarships to Bangladeshi students for bachelor, master and doctoral courses in the following three years, among which 30 scholarships will be for the academic year of 2016-2017.

"So the Chinese government will provide 192 full scholarships to the Bangladeshi students for the academic year of 2016-2017, " Mr. Chen Shuang, Cultural Counsellor of Chinese Embassy said.