For many students from lower middle-income backgrounds in Bangladesh, reaching university is a significant milestone, but it also brings tough realities. While some have family support to meet basic needs, others face a relentless struggle, as they balance academic ambitions with severe financial limitations. Jhuton’s Story: The Price of University Life Jhuton Talukdar, a second-year law student at Rajshahi University, is well aware of the financial pressures his family faces. His older brother is the family’s sole breadwinner, working tirelessly to keep them afloat. “My brother’s income isn’t enough, so I tutor to support myself, but finding tutoring opportunities is not always easy,” he shared. “When I can’t find work, I’m stuck wondering how I’ll get by.” Jhuton’s financial struggles are made worse by housing costs. He was unable to secure a place in a university dormitory, leaving him to rent a room nearby, which adds significantly to his expenses. DU students demand cancellation of 7 colleges' affiliation “Living costs are high, and I’m always worried about money,” he said. For Jhuton, these pressures are not just financial; they impact his ability to concentrate on studies and build a stable future. Discrimination and Language Barriers Ayon Mia, a master’s student in law at Dhaka University, points to another challenge for students like him from rural areas. “There’s a noticeable bias,” he noted. “Students from more privileged backgrounds often receive more attention, while those of us from rural areas are left to figure things out on our own.” For Ayon, language has also been a hurdle. Coming from a region with a distinct dialect, he felt hesitant to engage in conversations at first. “You feel judged, and that affects your confidence,” he said. Alongside these challenges, finding funds for daily expenses remains a constant worry. Coping with Mental Pressure Raja Talukdar, studying management at Dhaka University, describes the strain that accompanies his financial limitations. “There’s always stress—wondering if I’ll manage, if my family can afford my expenses, if I’m taking too much from them,” he said. Without access to career advice or mentors, Raja and others like him navigate university life largely on their own. “My family is supportive, but they don’t have experience with higher education or career paths. Sometimes, I feel lost without guidance,” he admitted. Going Hungry to Stay in School One first-year Dhaka University student, who wishes to remain unnamed, shared a particularly harsh experience. “I recently went two days without food. I had no money and had to borrow from a senior to get something to eat,” he said. Due to financial constraints, he often goes without essential books or study materials, placing him at a disadvantage. Professor Dr. Mehjabin Haque, Director of the Student Guidance and Counseling Office of Dhaka University, said that part-time job opportunities are available to help students with financial problems. Students can work for short periods in the university library, registrar's office, and halls with their convenience. Besides, the Student Promotion and Support Unit, under the Proctor’s office, provides job opportunities both within the university and in various offices and industries outside. They also offer training to help students secure jobs later and gain practical experience, he added. Moreover, to alleviate financial issues, the department, alumni association and other sources arrange scholarships. The Student Guidance and Counseling Office also provides psychotherapy and advice on any issues to help students, said Professor Mehjabin.    

Education Minister Dipu Moni on Thursday said some of the newly established public universities do not have their own campus yet. She also said that professors of the old universities do not want to go to new universities. The Education Minister said this while speaking at the passage of Mujibnagar University, Meherpur Bill, 2023 in Parliament. Stating that there are 53 public universities in the country, the Education Minister said that the most recently established universities have no place of their own so far. “The construction work has not begun. Apart from that, there are some completely new ones. There is no professor rank except vice-chancellor and treasurer.” She said that no one with the rank of professor from the old university wants to go to the new university. “Lecturers are appointed as teachers there, it will take another 15 years for them to become professors. But it is not that research opportunities have been created in the new universities. We have to accept that reality.” Dipu Moni admitted that research in all universities is not the same. She said that the standards and interest in research are not the same in all universities. “University is not for practising knowledge, but for creating knowledge. The way to create that knowledge is research.” She said that the government has opened honours indiscriminately due to the interest of public representatives. “If the students are not of honours standard the teacher may not be of honours standard either. But we have opened honours courses,” she said. In the discussion of public opinion, the Education Minister said that she is working to increase efficiency. “70 percent of our higher education students go to national universities in 2,257 colleges across the country.” Participating in the discussion on public opinion, Jatiya Party MP Shamim Haider Patwari demanded the establishment of an expatriate university.He said that eight to 10 lakh people go abroad every year. Read more: New curriculum books may contain mistakes: Dipu Moni “What has the education system provided for them? Didn't do anything. Didn't even teach them the language.” “Passport and immigration knowledge is not given. We need expatriate universities. Where the sons and daughters of expatriates will study? And they will get the knowledge of what they will do abroad.” Patwari claimed that no research has been done on how much manpower is needed in a sector of the country. “We have not done any global research. How many lorry drivers are needed all over the world, how many nurses are needed, even how many are needed in our country.” Claiming that European Union is interested in talent partnership with Bangladesh, he said: “We should go for talent partnership. If we don't do this and create only graduates, they will wander around the world as unemployed.” He said that education was, is and will be the backbone of the nation. A country that has no resources such as oil and gas people are the wealth of that country. “Educating them and making them skilled is wealth. From there we are giving more focus to bricks, stones while considering bridges, culverts as the backbone of the nation. Education and skills should be the backbone of the nation.” Jatiya Party’s Pir Fazlur Rahman said that the tenure of the 11th parliament is coming to an end. The education minister repeatedly told the parliament that she would appeal against the decision to exclude Members of Parliament from the post of president of higher secondary colleges. “Appeals will be made, hearings will be held, listening to that the whole term of this Parliament is coming to an end.”      

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday called upon the public universities to raise their own funds through the alumni associations for their own development and welfare programmes.  “Every university has an alumni association and through this they can create their own funds for the development of universities and the implementation of projects for the welfare of students,” she said. The premier made this call while the members of the Standing Committee of Bangladesh University Parishad (Bangladesh University Council) comprising vice chancellors of various public universities,called on her at her official residence Ganabhaban. Read more: ‘Always a proud moment to see our girls doing so well’: PM tells MasterChef finalist Kishwar After the meeting, Prime Minister's Deputy Press Secretary KM Sakhawat Moon briefed the reporters. Placing importance on maintaining good relations with students  the PM said, besides studies students should be made useful for the development of the country. “Students of Bangladesh are very talented, if they are given a little chance, they can bring a higher degree from abroad after completing their university studies,” she said. To this end, she called upon the university teachers to be more responsible and attentive to make the students suitable. She said that to fulfill the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to build a golden Bengal, golden boys and girls should be raised in the universities. The prime minister said that university students should be involved in sports, cultural activities and creative activities in addition to studies so that they stay away from terrorism and militancy. Read more: No condition for IMF loan to Bangladesh: PM Hasina tells Parliament For this purpose,  Hasina urged to take the initiative to start the inter-university sports competition again. She recalled that once upon a time there was rampant use of weapons in university shootings, but after Awami League came to power, there is no clanking of weapons and terrorism and militancy in the country have been suppressed with a firm hand. Pointing out that the government has given importance to the development of the skills of the youth, she said that steps have been taken to ensure that the youth can become entrepreneurs and provide jobs to others instead of chasing jobs after studying. PM Hasina said that whenever Awami League comes to power, the rate and quality of education in the country increases. In this context, she mentioned that her government has given importance to development of education, research, production and excellence as well as skill development. At the same time, the prime minister said that the government is gradually moving the country towards industrialization by maintaining the balance of the environment. Read more: AL never considers what it gets in return of working for the people: PM Hasina Hasina said that the government has developed Digital Bangladesh under the guidance of her information and communication technology advisor Sajib Wazed Joy. She expressed her determination to build a developed, prosperous and smart Bangladesh in 2041 by maintaining this continuity of development. In the event, the vice-chancellors of  government universities raised various problems of their respective universities and the PM gave a patient hearing with assurance to solve those  gradually.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (December 12, 2022) said that public universities in Bangladesh lagged behind in adapting to virtual or online class when the government tried to introduce it during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Let me share something regrettable. Our public universities were a bit slow in using the digital system in education during the pandemic period. They were far behind (compared to private universities),” she said. The Prime Minister said this while attending the inaugural programme of Digital Bangladesh Day 2022. ICT Division organised the programme at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) with the theme ‘Advanced Technology Inclusive Development’. Read more: From ‘Digital Bangladesh’ to ‘Smart Bangladesh’ by 2041, PM announces Sheikh Hasina said that during the pandemic, public universities expressed reluctance to go for online classes. “Private universities started that (online classes) quickly. But our public universities (did not), even Dhaka University (did not start promptly),” she said. She said that after repeated requests, public universities of the country introduced online classes. “That was the reality. When a system is beneficial to us, why should we not adopt that?” – she questioned. Read more: $230bn needed: PM seeks support from global partners to implement climate adaptation plan If there were no ‘Digital Bangladesh’, what would have happened during the Covid-19 pandemic, she wondered. “Everything would come to a standstill.” The Prime Minister also elaborated on her government’s ICT-friendly initiatives and Vision 2041 to establish Smart Bangladesh. She mentioned that successful implementation of Digital Bangladesh made it possible for the government to keep the economy, education and other activities running properly during the pandemic. Regarding the economic situation worldwide due to the coronavirus pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war, sanctions and counter-sanctions, Sheikh Hasina said that prices of essentials have increased globally. Read More: Huawei ICT Incubator announces top 6 startups from Bangladesh “Developed countries are facing a volatile situation. Even developed countries like Great Britain have declared recession. By the grace of Allah, we are still able to run our economic wheel,” she said.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Monday approved a budget of Tk 10,444.04 crore for 51 public universities of the country for 2022-23 fiscal year. The commission approved the budget at its 162th meeting held virtually with UGC Chairman (Additional) Professor Dr Dil Afroza in the chair. In the total budget of Tk 10,515.71 crore, UGC will get Tk 71.67 Crore, UGC said in a press release . Also read: UGC to bring all varsity students under digital device coverage by 2023 In the main budget for the universities, the size of the revenue budget is Tk 6,023.60 crore while the development budget is Tk 4,420.44 crore for 40 projects. In fiscal 2022-23, the allotted budget for the public universities has increased Tk 937.80 crore from the previous year. Also read: Cluster admission tests to be held in 32 universities in 2021-22 session: UGC In this fiscal, Dhaka University will get the highest revenue budget of Tk 864.94 crore while Sheikh Hasina Medical University, Khulna will get lowest Tk 3.83 crore. In the main budget Tk 150 crore has been allotted for research under UGC and public University which is Tk 32 crore more than the previous year.

Education Minister Dipu Moni on Monday told Parliament that some 4,150 posts of teachers are vacant in 43 public universities of the country. The Minister placed the statistics in the House replying to a tabled question from Awami League MP Didarul Alam (Chattogram-4). The highest 410 posts of teachers are vacant in Chittagong University, 346 vacant  in Rajshahi University, 314 vacant in Shahjalal Science and Technology University, 310 in Islamic University in Kushtia and 303 in Dhaka University. READ: Students to get new textbooks in time next year: Dipu Moni Besides, there are 242 vacant posts of teachers in Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), 213 vacant posts in Patuakhali Science and Technology University, 151 in Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, 150  in Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, 131 in Chattogram University of Science and Technology, 127 vacant posts in Jahangirnagar University, 114 in Bangladesh Agricultural University and 106 vacant posts in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agriculture University.

The first-ever combined tests of 20 general, science, and technology universities for the academic year 2020-21 were held on Sunday. Considering the Covid-19 situation, authorities have set up 28 exam centres across Bangladesh, according to Wahiduzzaman, member secretary of the Cluster Admission Test Committee. Some 361,406 students have applied to take part in the cluster admission tests for public universities. Among them, 194 841 applied to science departments but only 131,905 students got the chance to sit for the test. The exams for the humanities (B) and commerce units (C) are scheduled to be held on October 24 and November 1 respectively.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has allowed online recruitment tests in public universities along with in-person exams on five conditions. A letter signed by UGC Secretary (Additional Responsibilities) Dr Ferdous Zaman was sent to the vice-chancellors and registrars of all public universities Sunday in this connection. Educational institutions are now conducting most of their operational activities, including classes, online amid the pandemic. Universities will be able to conduct online recruitment tests and interviews based on five conditions. Red RU to hold exams scrapped in 2019, 2020 in-person from this month Firstly, online recruitment tests and interviews cannot violate any law governing the institution. Second, the recruitment process must start through publishing an open circular based on the university's laws, statutes, and rules given the requirement of the concerned academic institution. Third, for holding online recruitment tests and interviews, a policy must be put in place and approved by the university's syndicate. The policy must follow the recommendations of the university's academic council. Read Barishal University: 82, inc. 40 teachers, earn promotions Fourth, the audiovisual record of the online recruitment process, relating to tests and interviews, will have to be preserved by the university for at least two years.  Lastly, the original certificates and other paperwork of the selected applicants must be verified properly before appointing them. Read WURI Ranking 2021: ULAB among global top 100 innovative universities

All examinations under National University which were postponed on February 22 will begin from May 24.

Students of different public universities, including Dhaka, Rajshahi, Jahangirnagar, Chattogram, Kushtia’s Islamic University (IU) and Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), continuing their protests with the demand of reopening dorms, which had been kept shut citing pandemic.