No Major Reforms Visible in Bangladesh’s Public Universities Despite Mounting Challenges

While global attention recently focused on Harvard University for legally challenging U.S. policies to defend international students’ rights, public discourse in Bangladesh has shifted to issues in its public universities. Protests have erupted at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology and Barisal University over alleged irregularities by vice-chancellors, while students at Jagannath University demanded proper housing facilities. Despite hopes for reform following a student-led uprising, no substantial structural changes have occurred in governance, quality of education, or research output. Experts say that political appointments, unplanned expansion of departments, recruitment irregularities, and poor infrastructure continue to plague public universities.