Bangladesh, Australia to expand educational migration opportunities

Bangladesh and Australia have held high-level talks to expand education migration, focusing on student mobility, scholarships and academic collaboration.

The issue was discussed at a meeting between Commerce Adviser Khandaker Abdul Mukadir and Australian High Commissioner Susan Ryle at the Secretariat in Dhaka on 21 April. According to a press release, the talks covered trade, investment and broader economic cooperation, with education emerging as a key shared priority.

Ryle said around 28,000 Bangladeshi students are currently studying in Australia, reflecting steady growth in education migration and reinforcing the country’s appeal as a leading destination for higher education. She highlighted scope to expand scholarships, research links and institutional partnerships.

Both sides noted that student mobility is playing an increasingly important role in strengthening people-to-people ties, while supporting skills development and knowledge exchange.

Mukadir said the government is working to create a more investment-friendly environment and is keen to deepen cooperation in education alongside trade and economic sectors. He stressed the importance of building human capital through international education and expressed interest in widening access to scholarships and training opportunities for Bangladeshi students.

He also invited greater Australian investment in Bangladesh, particularly in renewable energy such as solar power, noting that the government is prioritising job creation, industrial growth and the better use of underutilised assets in the sector.