The Bangladesh government’s move to provide free education for women is a proud milestone for our country. But while we celebrate our daughters, we are accidentally leaving our sons in the shadows.

On April 27, 2026, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman officially announced at Jashore's Eidgah Maidan that education will be free exclusively for girls up to the undergraduate level— eventually planning on completing earlier pledges to cover postgraduate studies for women. While this is a massive step forward for women, this exclusive focus risks creating a new form of inequality.

By funding only one gender, we are telling young men from struggling families that their education isn't a priority. We are creating a new gap where men's educational needs are ignored. To build a truly prosperous Bangladesh, we cannot afford to educate only half of our citizens while the other half falls behind.

Education is a fundamental right for all citizens, regardless of gender. The prosperity and development of Bangladesh depend on the education of all its citizens, men and women alike. When only one segment of the population is given priority, it undermines the principle of equal opportunity for all. Educating men is equally vital for nurturing well-rounded societal development, reducing unemployment, and enhancing the nation’s overall social fabric.

Numerous studies have shown that access to education leads to beneficial outcomes across society, such as reduced crime rates, enhanced civic engagement, and increased economic productivity. Yet in Bangladesh, a quiet crisis engulfs young boys: primary school dropout rates have spiked to 19.02% for boys versus 13.36% for girls (Annual Primary School Statistics 2024); 15% of adolescent boys remain out of school compared to just 4% of girls (UNESCO 2024); and 97.5% of child laborers in hazardous sectors like welding are boys (Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics). Even at tertiary levels, male-female ratios have now equalized at roughly 52:48 (University Grants Commission 2022/2023), a stark reversal from past male majorities that underscores the pipeline collapse. The government must extend free education to boys. By extending free education to men, the government can harness untapped potential and foster a more inclusive environment that benefits every citizen.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's gender-exclusive announcement contravenes core constitutional protections. Article 27 guarantees that "all citizens are equal before the law and entitled to equal protection," yet denies male students equal access to tuition waivers. Article 28(1) explicitly states "the State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of... sex," making exclusion of men from undergraduate/postgraduate benefits direct sex-based discrimination. Article 17(a) mandates the State to provide "uniform, mass-oriented... education" and "free and compulsory education" to all children without gender bias, but this policy creates parallel unequal systems.

We acknowledge the remarkable progress in women's education in Bangladesh and fully support its ongoing advancement. However, continuing to prioritize one gender risks widening the educational gap in the opposite direction—now leaving boys, especially from low-income families, increasingly disadvantaged.

Our Core Demands:

1. Immediate Gender-Neutral Extension: Include male students in free undergraduate and postgraduate education without delay, ensuring tuition waivers apply equally to all qualified applicants regardless of gender—extending parity up to master's levels as pledged for women.

2. Need-Based Scholarships for All: Launch income-based stipends prioritizing merit and financial hardship over gender to foster truly inclusive academic environments.

Join us in calling for educational equality in Bangladesh. Let's advocate for the implementation of policies that ensure free education for all, regardless of gender, paving the way for a more equitable and prosperous future. Please sign this petition to urge the Bangladeshi government to amend its educational policies to embrace inclusivity and equality for every citizen.

 

BNP pledges free education for women up to postgraduation level- BSS​

PM announces free education for girls up to undergraduate level ​

Primary schools: Dropouts up after 14 years of decline​

UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report 2024/2025- Bangladesh Case Study ​

1.78m children engage in child labor: BBS​

Male-female student ratio to be equal in public universities