The University of Chittagong (CU) has not admitted any foreign students in its undergraduate programs for the past 23 years, despite designated seats for international applicants in all departments. University sources have confirmed that over 2,600 seats reserved for foreign students have remained unfilled during this period.
In contrast, various public and private universities in Bangladesh, such as Dhaka University, Rajshahi University, and Jahangirnagar University, continue to attract foreign students annually for both undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Despite not mandating admission tests for international applicants, CU has struggled to generate interest from overseas students.
The initial intake of foreign students at CU occurred in the 1987–88 academic session, with four Nepali students enrolling in the Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences. Between 1990–91 and 1998–99, an additional 15 Nepali students pursued undergraduate programs at the same institute, followed by four others who enrolled in master’s programs from 1999–2000 to 2002–03. However, since then, no foreign students have been enrolled in CU’s degree programs.
In 2017–18, only four Chinese students participated in a one-year language course at the Institute of Modern Languages, while currently, one foreign student is pursuing an online degree under the Faculty of Law at CU. According to the University Grants Commission (UGC), there are 633 foreign students studying in 21 public universities across Bangladesh, with Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University hosting the highest number at 112 students.
Private universities in Bangladesh attract international students through collaborations with third-party agencies, a strategy not commonly employed by CU or most public universities. Foreign students seeking admission to public universities in Bangladesh must apply through their country’s Bangladeshi embassy and the Ministry of Education, which forwards applications to universities based on reserved quotas.
At CU, there are two seats allocated in each department and five in the Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, totaling 113 seats reserved for foreign students. However, no applications have been received under this quota since 2002. Professor Shamim Uddin, the Pro-Vice Chancellor of CU, acknowledged the lack of sustained efforts to attract foreign students, citing campus instability, student politics, accommodation shortages, session overlaps, and food insecurity as deterrents.
To address these challenges, CU is planning to introduce new courses under the Institute of Modern Languages and enhance accommodation and dining facilities to appeal to international students. Professor Uddin noted that previously, Nepali students came to CU due to the absence of forestry and environmental science programs in their home universities. With the establishment of programs at Pokhara University in Nepal, the need for Nepali students to study in Bangladesh has diminished.
Professor Akhtar Hossain, the Director of the Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, supported these sentiments, mentioning that accommodation and food concerns have also influenced the lack of foreign student enrollment at CU. Despite the current situation, CU authorities remain optimistic that implementing new initiatives and improving facilities will reignite interest from foreign students and revitalize the university’s international student community.