Bangladesh Moves to Ease Visa Rules to Attract Foreign Students and Investment
By Toriqul Islam, Bangladesh Correspondent
DHAKA: Bangladesh is taking steps to ease its visa policy in an effort to attract greater foreign investment and increase the number of international students seeking higher education in the country.
The announcement was made by Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister A.N.M. Ehsanul Haque Milon while addressing the QS Bangladesh Forum 2026 as chief guest at a hotel in the capital on Monday.
The minister said that, once implemented, the initiative would make it easier for foreign students to obtain visas for higher education in Bangladesh. He said the move could enhance Bangladesh’s appeal as an international education destination and help connect the country’s higher education sector more closely with the global arena.
Representatives from more than 90 Bangladeshi universities attended the forum. The minister called for greater emphasis on Artificial Intelligence (AI), technical and vocational education, and research to improve educational quality and strengthen the global competitiveness of Bangladeshi universities.
He stressed that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is essential to transforming Bangladesh’s large population into a skilled workforce and said vocational and technical education should also be expanded at university level.
The minister further highlighted the need to increase the use of AI in higher education and strengthen the scope and quality of academic research to improve the position of Bangladeshi universities in international rankings, including the QS rankings.
He also called for greater internationalisation of Bangladesh’s higher education system through cross-border education and stronger academic cooperation with institutions around the world.
Highlighting the country’s human capital, Milon said Bangladesh has no shortage of talented teachers and students. He noted that Bangladeshi students are achieving strong results at universities overseas and contributing to research internationally.
He advocated a policy of “reverse brain drain” to encourage talented Bangladeshis living abroad to return and contribute their expertise to national development.
“We want to make Bangladesh an education hub and we have that capability,” he said.
At the forum, University Grants Commission Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed delivered the keynote presentation. Speakers also included Md. Sabur Khan, Chairman of the Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh; Ishtiaq Abedin, Member of the Board of Trustees of American International University Bangladesh and Jason Newman, QS Chief Commercial Officer.Ashwin Fernandez, Chairman of QS India, delivered the welcome address.
