For years, Labiba Khatun came close to giving up her education -- not because she lacked the grades, but because her family could not afford the cost.
The second-year Eden Mohila College student lost her father at the age of six and grew up watching her mother work in other people’s homes to keep the family afloat.
She studied from second-hand textbooks, borrowed money to pay college admission fees and now tutors students to finance her own education while supporting her family.
“I thought about leaving my studies many times,” Labiba said. “For families like ours, higher education is not only a test of merit; it is also a struggle for money.”
Her story reflects the reality facing thousands of young women across Bangladesh, and has become central to the debate over one of the government’s most ambitious education pledges.
In the proposed 2026-27 national budget, the government announced that girls will receive free education up to the undergraduate or degree-pass level, aiming to reduce female dropout rates, expand higher education and build a more skilled workforce.
The budget also promises to raise education spending to 5% of GDP within five years.
The announcement has been widely welcomed, particularly by students from low-income families. But education experts warn that waiving tuition alone will not remove the financial barriers preventing many girls from completing university.
For students who move to Dhaka and other cities, accommodation, food, transport, books, internet access and digital devices often cost far more than tuition fees.
Many survive by giving private lessons or taking part-time jobs, while others abandon higher education altogether because their families cannot shoulder the expenses.
According to the proposed budget, Tk136,606 crore has been allocated to the education and technology sectors.
Alongside free undergraduate education for girls, the government plans to expand financial assistance for poor students, strengthen teacher training, invest in research and promote technical and vocational education.
Despite these commitments, Bangladesh continues to spend less on education than international benchmarks recommend.
The Unesco Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report 2026 recommends allocating 4-6% of GDP or 15-20% of total public expenditure to education.
While Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in school completion rates over the past three decades, economic hardship, child marriage and social barriers continue to limit many girls’ access to higher education.
Data from BANBEIS show that although girls’ participation in secondary and higher secondary education has increased substantially, financial pressures remain a major reason many fail to complete university.
The World Bank has also argued that expanding women’s higher education boosts employment, productivity and long-term economic growth.
Policy analysts say the success of the initiative will depend not simply on abolishing tuition fees but on ensuring that poor students can afford the full cost of university life.
The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) welcomed the increased allocation for education but stressed that transparent implementation is essential if the benefits are to reach disadvantaged students.
Women’s rights activists echoed that view, calling for clear eligibility criteria and effective monitoring.
Teachers, meanwhile, urged the government to complement free tuition with scholarships, affordable hostels, education loans and broader financial support.
Several South Asian countries already combine tuition support with scholarships, cash assistance and other incentives for female students.
Education experts say Bangladesh could achieve similar gains if the new policy is backed by comprehensive support rather than tuition waivers alone.
For Labiba, the promise of free undergraduate education offers hope, but only if it extends beyond the classroom.
“We don’t want this opportunity to remain only on paper,” she said.
“If it is truly implemented, it could change the lives of many girls like me. Then no girl will have to give up her education simply because of a lack of money.”
