Students to Receive Up to Tk1 Million in Loans for Overseas Higher Education Under Proposed Budget

In a move aimed at expanding global academic opportunities for Bangladeshi students, the government has proposed a new loan facility of up to Tk1 million (Tk10 lakh) for students seeking higher education abroad.

The initiative is expected to be formally announced as part of the proposed national budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, which Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury is presenting in the Jatiya Sangsad on Thursday.
 

According to budget-related information, the loan programme will target students who possess proficiency in a third language in addition to Bangla and English. The measure is designed to strengthen Bangladesh's human resource development strategy and improve the country's competitiveness in the international education and employment landscape.
 

Under the proposal, students with demonstrated knowledge of languages such as Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Arabic, French and German will be eligible to apply for educational loans of up to Tk10 lakh to pursue higher studies in countries where these languages are widely used.

Officials familiar with the initiative said the programme aims to make overseas education more accessible to talented students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, many of whom struggle to finance international academic pursuits despite securing admission opportunities abroad.

As part of broader education sector reforms, the government is also planning to introduce compulsory third-language learning within the national curriculum. The proposed policy seeks to equip future generations with language skills that align with evolving global labour market demands and international academic opportunities.
 

The budget proposal places significant emphasis on strengthening the education sector through increased investment and structural reforms. Sources indicate that the government is set to propose an allocation of Tk136,606 crore for education in the upcoming fiscal year, equivalent to approximately 2 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

If approved, the allocation would mark a substantial increase from the Tk87,206 crore allocated to the education sector in the 2025-26 fiscal year, which represented 1.39 percent of GDP.
 

The proposed national budget, valued at Tk938,000 crore, focuses on controlling inflation, accelerating economic growth, expanding investment, generating employment opportunities and building a stronger economic foundation.
 

Education analysts believe that easier access to overseas study financing, combined with multilingual skill development, could open new pathways for Bangladeshi students in global academia and international job markets.

If implemented, the initiative would represent one of the country's most ambitious efforts in recent years to support students pursuing higher education beyond national borders while aligning education policy with future workforce needs.