The first batch of people to apply for a revised development scholarship program met yesterday at Caritas offices in Mymensingh.

More than 50 tribal students were joined by tribal leaders as they learned more about Australia’s South Asia Scholarship Program under which Bangladesh is allocated 64 places.

Fourteen places are now reserved for tribals, including lowland people, after an announcement nearly a year ago by the Australian government which runs the program through AusAid.

Caritas Mymensingh regional director Theophil Nokrek said: “It is pleasing for the tribal people. Many times plain land tribals were neglected and left ‘uncounted’ from various facilities. I hope this opportunity will become a leg-up move for the downtrodden tribals.”