Why are young professionals leaving Bangladesh?

January 8, 2025

DHAKA – If you ask any multinational, regional, or large local corporate CEOs what keeps them awake at night, the most common reply is likely to be—employee retention. Be it Standard Chartered, Citibank, or PwC, many potential CEO candidates have been lost to first-world countries, and this exodus continues. They were mostly from reputed business schools or engineering universities. Their exit interviews revealed almost a common thread of answers.

Bangladesh has been witnessing a concerning exodus of young professionals, a trend referred to as “brain drain.” Talented individuals across diverse sectors are leaving the country in search of better opportunities abroad, raising questions about the underlying causes and potential solutions to stem this outflow. While migration for career or education is not unusual, the scale at which young professionals are leaving has sparked debate about the nation’s ability to retain its brightest minds.

One of the most significant reasons for this migration is the pursuit of higher education. Many young Bangladeshis dream of accessing world-class educational opportunities unavailable at home. For example, programmes in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence and biotechnology remain largely underdeveloped in Bangladesh. In contrast, countries like Canada, the US, and Australia offer not only top-tier universities but also opportunities to gain hands-on experiences.

Analysts highlight that the gaps between education and the job market in Bangladesh are significant. Without competitive programmes and international-standard training, it is only natural that students will seek education elsewhere.

For those who stay in Bangladesh after completing their education, the