Ethical Review Committee

Instructions for RERC-CIRBAS Application Submission

The Research Ethics Review Committee of CIRBAS (RERC-CIRBAS), Rajshahi, ensures research conducted by affiliated researchers adheres to established ethical standards. All Principal Investigators (PIs) are required to submit a complete RERC-CIRBAS application package and obtain ethical approval before commencing any research activities involving human participants.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Complete the RERC-CIRBAS application form, ensuring that all open-ended questions are answered thoroughly and accurately. Submit a complete research proposal along with the following supporting documents:

Copies of all survey instruments, interview and focus group protocols, and observational guidelines.
Informed consent forms and relevant participant information documents.
Copies of all participant communication materials and, where applicable, organizational permission or authorization forms.
Documentation of permission to use any copyrighted research instruments, where applicable.
An electronic copy of the complete application package submitted to cirbas2023@gmail.com. The electronic submission must be compiled and submitted as a single PDF file.

REVIEW TIMEFRAME

The RERC-CIRBAS generally requires four weeks to review and respond to submissions. However, the review process for Fast-Track services may take as little as two weeks, while Regular services typically require four weeks. To expedite the review process, applicants should ensure that all required documents and forms are completed accurately and submitted in full. Although the RERC-CIRBAS strives to adhere to the specified timeframes, additional time may be required in certain cases.

APPLICATION REVIEW OUTCOMES

Following review, an application may receive one of the following decisions:

Approved
Approved with Conditions
Disapproved

Research activities may commence only after an unconditional approval letter has been issued by the RERC-CIRBAS. If an application receives conditional approval, the applicant must address the specified conditions and resubmit the required materials in accordance with the RERC-CIRBAS’s instructions. Resubmitted materials will be reviewed within seven working days.

RERC-CIRBAS REVIEW FEES

The RERC-CIRBAS review process at the Centre for Integrated Research for Business and Society (CIRBAS) may be subject to a review fee, depending on the type and complexity of the research study. These fees are intended to cover the administrative costs associated with the ethical review process. The applicable fee structure is outlined in the RERC-CIRBAS guidelines and should be reviewed prior to submitting an application. The required fee must be paid upon submission of the application, and the review process will commence only after payment has been confirmed. To avoid delays in the review process, researchers are advised to ensure that the required payment is made promptly. Following submission of the application form, an invoice detailing the applicable fee will be sent to the applicant via email.

The applicable fee structure is as follows:

Identification	Fee (External)	Fee (CIRBAS Member)
1. Undergraduate and regular master’s students	BDT 1,000	BDT 500
2. MPhil, PhD, Evening, and non-regular postgraduate courses	BDT 2,500	BDT 1,000
3. Professionals, Organizations, Research centers	BDT 5,000	BDT 2,000
4. Research under funded project/sub-project	BDT 10,000	BDT 5,000
5. International scholars and institutions	USD 300	USD 200

For Fast-Track services, an additional 25% surcharge will be applied to the applicable Regular Service fee.

All fees stated above are exclusive of VAT and applicable taxes.

FORMS

To submit an application, please download and fill out the application form and send it to cirbas2023@gmail.com.

CONTACT

For further queries, please contact:

Md. Mustaqim Roshid

Research Associate,

CIRBAS.

Phone: +88-01630-197854

E-mail:mustaqimroshid@gmail.com