Seven teachers from Khulna University’s (KU) Life Science School have received the Research Excellence Award-2025 in recognition of their research contributions and achievements.

The awards were introduced for the first time by the school, based on an evaluation of research activities conducted between January and December 2025.

The recipients are Professor Dr Md Yamin Kabir of Agrotechnology; Professor Dr Md Murchalin Billah of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering; Assistant Professor Sadhan Chandra Swarnakar of Environmental Science; Professor Dr Alokesh Kumar Ghosh of Fisheries and Marine Resource Technology; Professor Dr Md Iftekhar Shams of Forestry and Wood Technology; Associate Professor Md Monirul Islam of Pharmacy; and Associate Professor Dr Milton Halder of Soil, Water and Environment Science.

The awards were presented at a ceremony at Journalist Liaquat Ali Auditorium on Wednesday, with KU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Md Rezaul Karim attending as chief guest and handing over crests and certificates to the recipients.

Addressing the event, Rezaul Karim said the government had taken various initiatives to develop skilled human resources while increasing allocations for innovation and research.

He said KU aimed to contribute to national development through impactful research and had increased its research allocations, with an emphasis on industry-academia collaboration.

Fundamental research was among the key responsibilities of universities, he said, adding that KU was advancing research excellence as a research-focused institution.

The university had secured eight projects under the Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) project to undertake large-scale research activities, he added.

KU Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Md Harunur Rashid Khan and Treasurer Professor Dr Md Nurunnabi attended the programme as special guests.

Professor Dr Md Golam Hossain, dean of the Life Science School, chaired the event, while Professor Dr Md Nabiul Islam Khan, head of the Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline and convener of the organising committee, delivered the welcome address.

The award-winning teachers also presented brief overviews of their respective research activities.

At the same event, the Life Science School honoured Professor Dr Md Mursalin Billah of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering and Professor Dr Md Nasif Ahsan of Economics for recently receiving the national Distinguished Teacher Award from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.