Dhaka: Education Minister Dr. ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Monday emphasized that Bangladesh must reverse the brain drain by bringing back talented students and researchers from abroad to establish itself as an education hub. 'We have no shortage of talented teachers and students in our country. Our students are doing very well in research and academic results at universities abroad. We must bring them back through reverse brain drain and put that talent to use,' he stated.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the minister made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) Bangladesh Forum 2026, held at a city hotel. The forum, themed 'Benchmark Bangladesh: Building World-Class Universities Through Global Standards,' saw participation from representatives of over 90 universities across the nation.
Milon also addressed the necessity of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) to convert the country's large population into a productive workforce, suggesting a greater emphasis on TVET at the university level. Additionally, he advocated for the broader integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education to enhance learning outcomes and global competitiveness.
In his speech, Milon highlighted the importance of research in improving Bangladesh's position in global QS rankings and the need for cross-border education. 'We want to build Bangladesh as an education hub. We have that capacity,' he affirmed.
Following the event, the minister discussed the considerable challenge posed by the submission of over 12 lakh applications for re-evaluation of SSC answer scripts this year, signaling a substantial demand for reassessment among students. He noted that the government is considering a new policy to establish clear criteria for answer-script re-evaluation.
Milon further mentioned the government's steps to streamline visa procedures, aiming to attract foreign investment and create more opportunities for foreign students to study in Bangladesh.