Hidden struggles behind private university education in Bangladesh
City Desk :
At first glance, Bangladesh’s private universities project an image of progress: sleek campuses, glossy adverts, and bold promises of ‘world-class education’. But for many middle-income families, those dreams now carry a heavy cost.
“I had to take a huge amount of loan from a bank to get my son admitted into a university in Dhaka,” said Faizur Rahman, a private firm executive, reports UNB.
“Like me, thousands of parents are quietly bearing the burden, spending savings for a shot at higher education,” he said, adding, “Behind the air-conditioned classrooms and polished branding lies a big question – is this model of education truly accessible?”
Completing an undergraduate degree at a private university in Bangladesh can cost a student between Tk 10 to 15 lakh, a financial burden that many middle-class families struggle to bear.
An analysis of tuition fees at several prominent private universities in Dhaka reveals that simply covering course and credit-related expenses may require a family to spend Tk 8 to 12 lakh. Depending on the subject of study, this amount may rise up to Tk 15 lakh.
For instance, a top-tier residential university located in the Bashundhara Residential Area charges between Tk 9.59 lakh and Tk 12.47 lakh for an undergraduate degree in engineering. For science-related disciplines outside engineering, the cost ranges from Tk 8.94 lakh to Tk 14.48 lakh.
Another leading private university in Merul Badda charges even more.
According to its website, students pay over Tk 8,000 per credit. When combined with admission, course, semester, and library fees, the total cost of completing a degree ranges between Tk 10 to 15 lakh.
Similar is the case with a university in Aftabnagar, where graduating in a well-regarded subject costs between Tk 7 to 9.5 lakh. For a highly demanded programme like BBA, the expense is around Tk 8.27 lakh, excluding additional miscellaneous costs.
In contrast, students at public universities such as Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, Jagannath University, Khulna University, Rajshahi University, Chittagong University and Barishal University typically spend Tk 30,000 to Tk 50,000 over the entire duration of their undergraduate studies.