Bangla Press Desk: The number of foreign students enrolling in Bangladesh’s medical colleges is falling. Although more than 2,500 seats are reserved for foreign students in private medical colleges, only about 1,000 students enrolled this year. As a result, the country is losing nearly 20 billion taka in foreign income annually.
Medical education experts say that substandard institutions and the lack of international recognition for Bangladeshi MBBS degrees are among the key reasons for the decline. There are currently 67 private medical colleges in the country, with 6,293 total seats. Once a college has been in operation for five years, it can allocate 45 percent of its seats to foreign students. Based on this, 2,764 seats are currently reserved for them.
According to the Directorate General of Medical Education, only 1,074 foreign students enrolled in private medical colleges this year—leaving more than 1,500 seats vacant. These are later filled with Bangladeshi students. Several private medical colleges, including Ahsania Mission Medical College, Asgar Ali Medical College, Bikrampur Bhuiyan Medical College, Chattogram International Medical College, Dhaka Community Medical College, Gonoshasthaya Samajvittik Medical College, Marine City Medical College, President Abdul Hamid Medical College, South Apollo Medical College, United Medical College, Uttara Adhunik Medical College, and Z.H. Sikder Women’s Medical College, failed to enroll even a single foreign student. Four other colleges admitted only one student each, while 12 colleges enrolled fewer than 10.
Observers note that unless Bangladesh secures approval from the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME), MBBS degrees from the country may lose recognition in many parts of the world. This concern has already impacted foreign student enrollment. At one time, 2,500–3,000 foreign students came to Bangladesh each year for MBBS. Completing the degree typically costs each student around 5 million taka, meaning Bangladesh now risks losing 20 billion taka in foreign currency annually.
Decline in foreign students at medical colleges
Banglapress
Published: 23 September 2025, 10:26 AM
Bangla Press Desk: The number of foreign students enrolling in Bangladesh’s medical colleges is falling. Although more than 2,500 seats are reserved for foreign students in private medical colleges, only about 1,000 students enrolled this year. As a result, the country is losing nearly 20 billion taka in foreign income annually.
Medical education experts say that substandard institutions and the lack of international recognition for Bangladeshi MBBS degrees are among the key reasons for the decline. There are currently 67 private medical colleges in the country, with 6,293 total seats. Once a college has been in operation for five years, it can allocate 45 percent of its seats to foreign students. Based on this, 2,764 seats are currently reserved for them.
According to the Directorate General of Medical Education, only 1,074 foreign students enrolled in private medical colleges this year—leaving more than 1,500 seats vacant. These are later filled with Bangladeshi students. Several private medical colleges, including Ahsania Mission Medical College, Asgar Ali Medical College, Bikrampur Bhuiyan Medical College, Chattogram International Medical College, Dhaka Community Medical College, Gonoshasthaya Samajvittik Medical College, Marine City Medical College, President Abdul Hamid Medical College, South Apollo Medical College, United Medical College, Uttara Adhunik Medical College, and Z.H. Sikder Women’s Medical College, failed to enroll even a single foreign student. Four other colleges admitted only one student each, while 12 colleges enrolled fewer than 10.
Observers note that unless Bangladesh secures approval from the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME), MBBS degrees from the country may lose recognition in many parts of the world. This concern has already impacted foreign student enrollment. At one time, 2,500–3,000 foreign students came to Bangladesh each year for MBBS. Completing the degree typically costs each student around 5 million taka, meaning Bangladesh now risks losing 20 billion taka in foreign currency annually.
[Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.]
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