By Rakib Hossain, Researcher & Development Professional, PhD Fellow in Economics, Khulna University.
Every year, thousands of Bangladesh’s brightest minds doctors, engineers, researchers, IT professionals, and ambitious students leave the country in search of better opportunities abroad. For many, the decision to migrate is not solely driven by the promise of higher pay but by hopes for greater stability, career development, and a better quality of life. As this outflow of skilled individuals continues to rise, Bangladesh is confronted with a serious dilemma: while remittances offer vital economic relief, the long-term loss of intellectual capital poses a grave threat to sustainable national development.
The economic benefit of migration is evident. In FY2023, Bangladesh received more than $21 billion in remittances, a lifeline for millions of families and a stabilizing force for the national economy. These funds help pay for children’s education, healthcare, and small-scale entrepreneurship, and in some cases, contribute to local charitable activities. In fact, many Bangladeshis abroad feel a strong sense of connection to their homeland, sending money, investing in family properties, or supporting their communities from afar.
A recent study commissioned by the British Council, titled “Next Generation Bangladesh 2024”, revealed that 55 percent of young people aged between 18 to 35 years in Bangladesh express a desire to migrate abroad. However, behind this economic inflow lies a more troubling reality. Bangladesh is effectively exporting its best minds not because they lack patriotism, but because the system at home often fails to provide the environment they need to thrive. Our public institutions, riddled with inefficiencies, corruption, and resource constraints, are unable to absorb the full potential of this highly educated segment of society. The result is a slow but steady erosion of national talent.
Nowhere is this more visible than in our overstretched public health and education sectors. Hospitals routinely face a shortage of skilled specialists and trained nurses, many of whom are now serving in the UK, Canada, Australia, or the Middle East. Similarly, universities struggle to retain quality faculty and researchers, leading to a decline in academic rigor and research output. Even the private sector—particularly in high-potential fields like IT, biotechnology, and engineering—suffers from the absence of experienced professionals who choose foreign opportunities over domestic uncertainty.
For many young Bangladeshis, studying abroad is seen not just as an academic pursuit but as the first step toward settling in a developed country. According to BANBEIS, in 2021 alone, around 45,000 Bangladeshi students left the country for higher education. A World Economic Forum survey in 2020 found that 82% of Bangladeshi youth between ages 15 to 29 expressed a desire to leave the country permanently. These numbers are not just statistics—they reflect a growing crisis of confidence in our national institutions and a widespread belief that success is more attainable elsewhere.
This brain drain is not limited to students or early-career professionals. Increasingly, mid-career experts and even senior academics are choosing to leave, often citing better research environments, recognition, and living standards abroad. For many, the allure lies not only in financial gain but in the assurance of merit-based systems, institutional support, and personal freedom.
Bangladesh’s education system, particularly at the tertiary level, suffers from overcrowding, outdated curricula, and limited research funding. English-medium students often feel alienated by the admission systems of public universities, prompting many to explore foreign institutions where their qualifications are better recognized. Technological advancements have also made it easier than ever to apply abroad, further accelerating this outward migration. But while the loss of skilled individuals is real and painful, some view the situation through a more hopeful lens. India, once a major exporter of engineering graduates, has made significant strides in reversing this trend. With the rise of urban tech hubs like Bengaluru and Hyderabad, Indian professionals now find ample opportunities within their own borders. This has helped lower India’s brain drain index to 6.1—better than Bangladesh’s 7.6, according to the Fund for Peace.
The first step is to acknowledge that brain drain cannot be stopped overnight. Migration is a natural human instinct, especially when people seek a better life. But brain drain can be turned into brain circulation if policies and systems are designed smartly. We need to invest in quality education, research infrastructure, and industry-academia partnerships. Returnees must be incentivized to bring their knowledge home through grants, fellowships, or startup support. Career development pathways must be made transparent and merit-based. Our youth are not leaving because they do not love their country, they are leaving because they do not see a future that matches their potential. If we want to keep our talent, we must build a Bangladesh worth staying in. A country that values its thinkers, supports its innovators, and rewards excellence. Without that, the great Bangladeshi dream will continue to be the same: to leave.
