Dhaka: Bangladesh is set to take a significant step toward strengthening women's participation in higher education by expanding free education opportunities for female students, a move aimed at narrowing the persistent gap in tertiary education and creating pathways to professional excellence. The initiative comes as the country builds on its achievements in ensuring near gender parity in primary and secondary education and seeks to increase women's participation in universities, technical education, and professional careers.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury reaffirmed the government's commitment to expanding educational opportunities for women in his National Budget Speech for the Fiscal Year 2026-27 (FY27). "Every citizen has the rights to education. As part of this, free education for girls has been extended up to the graduate level," he stated, emphasizing the broader role of education in national development.
The Gender Budget Report FY27 reveals that female enrollment at the tertiary level currently stands at 20.81 percent, significantly below the 80 percent target set under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030. The report indicates a stagnation and slight decline in female enrollment since 2021, widening the gender gap at the tertiary level to around eight percentage points in 2024.
Bangladesh's position in global educational attainment reflects this slowdown, with the country ranking 115th, compared to Sri Lanka at 48th and Malaysia at 59th. The report identifies socio-economic barriers, including early marriage, safety concerns, early motherhood, gender-based violence, and stereotypes about girls' capabilities in STEM subjects, as significant challenges affecting female participation in higher education.
Addressing these challenges has emerged as a policy priority. The finance minister highlighted strengthened efforts to support social protection and prevent child marriage, while initiatives have been taken to address the existing challenges in this area. The government's Election Manifesto 2026 places women's empowerment at the center of its development agenda, proposing a range of interventions to help female students continue their education beyond the secondary level.
Proposed measures include extending tuition-free educational opportunities for women up to the postgraduate level, establishing girls' hostels for safe accommodation, installing sanitary vending machines in educational institutions, and expanding female stipend programs. Specialized scholarships for meritorious students from rural and suburban areas are also part of the strategy.
The Secondary and Higher Education Division (SHED) is focusing on increasing female participation in STEM and technical fields through vocational training and digital learning facilities. Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury highlighted the government's broader policy direction by stating that special priority has been accorded to skills-based employment, the creative economy, social protection, agriculture and food security, women's empowerment, energy security, and infrastructure development.
To facilitate advanced learning and specialized skills development, the government has introduced a loan facility of Tk 10 lakh for students wishing to pursue higher education abroad to support third-language learning. The combined measures reflect a growing focus on removing financial, social, and institutional barriers that restrict women's access to higher education and professional opportunities.
As Bangladesh seeks to build a creative, skilled, and globally competitive workforce, policymakers view greater female participation in tertiary education as a key component of the country's long-term development strategy, enabling women to play an equal role in the nation's journey toward prosperity.