Bangladeshi students spent Tk 82,089 crore abroad in FY25

Bangladeshi families spent a record Tk 82,089 crore (approximately $667.77 million) on foreign education in the last fiscal year, according to new data from Bangladesh Bank.

The figure marks a staggering 153% increase over four years and represents the highest single-year outflow for overseas studies in the nation’s history.

Behind the eye-watering numbers lies a generation quietly losing faith in opportunities at home. Over five fiscal years (FY21–FY25), total education-related foreign currency outflows exceeded Tk 2.17 lakh crore, fueled by a weak domestic job market, soaring tuition costs abroad, and growing concerns over safety and political instability.

Why they leave

For many students, the decision is purely arithmetic. Kazi Hamid, a Dhaka-based education consultant, noted that a fresh graduate earning Tk 20,000 per month cannot justify spending Tk 15 lakh on a local degree. “That is the arithmetic of disillusionment,” he said.

Safety is another major factor. Nilima Haque, a student at the University of Windsor in Canada, said, “Beyond education and jobs, I also wanted a sense of freedom and security in daily life, which I could not always feel back home.” She cited mob violence and weak law enforcement as deeply unsettling.

Where do they go and at what cost

The United States remains the top destination (8,524 students in 2023), followed by the UK, Canada, Malaysia, and Germany. Experts note a growing shift toward more affordable options like Japan, South Korea, and Denmark.

Per-student spending has also risen. Average transactions climbed from roughly $5,940 in FY21 to $6,110 in FY25, even as the taka depreciated sharply.

Brain drains

Professor Mohammad Nure Alam Siddique of Dhaka University lamented that students educated at taxpayer-subsidized public universities often settle abroad permanently. “The state spends money on them, but they leave and never return,” he said.

With 55% of young Bangladeshis now wishing to migrate, according to a British Council survey, the record Tk 82,089 crore outflow is not just a financial statistic — it is a quiet verdict on the country’s failure to retain its brightest minds.