Teachers, researchers and students at 76 public and private universities will get access to more than 30,000 e-books and e-journals from seven international institutions under a new agreement aimed at widening the country's access to global academic resources.

The Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) project and the Bangladesh Research and Education Network (BdREN) signed the deal on Thursday at the University Grants Commission (UGC) meeting room in Dhaka, under the banner "E-Books for UGC Digital Library".

BdREN Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Tawrit and HEAT Project Director Asaduzzaman signed the agreement in the presence of UGC Chairman Mamun Ahmed.

Under the deal, academics and students will be able to use the e-books, e-journals and other research materials from the seven institutions.

Stressing greater use of e-resources, the UGC chairman said the materials are being procured in line with universities' needs and the country's priority sectors. "This will make it easier for teachers and researchers to access international e-books, e-journals and other research materials."

He said universities must step up their use of e-resources to improve the quality of education and research.

"We have to use this facility to move the country's research sector forward," he said, adding that the UGC is working on ways to boost e-resource use in research.

Highlighting the digital transformation drive at universities, Mamun said initiatives are underway to expand high-speed WiFi and broadband internet and to build an e-resource sharing system.

This, he said, would strengthen digital links among local universities and with institutions abroad. "The UGC is also moving to connect expatriate academics and researchers with Bangladeshi universities through digital platforms."

The UGC chairman said the commission is taking effective steps to develop the country's universities into fully digital campuses.