Year
2026
Reform Domain
Manifesto Watch
Sub Domain
Women’s Empowerment
Source of Reform Proposals
Election Manifesto of Bangladesh Nationalist Party - BNP
Reform Proposed
Reform Initiated
Legal and Policy Framework
Operationalisation
Action Implementation
Stage of Implementation
Reform Proposed
Last Update: 03-Aug-26
This pledge was articulated in the election manifesto of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for Bangladesh’s 13th national election. In its election manifesto, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) states that " For women students, opportunities for free education up to the postgraduate level will be created. Strong academic and technical education opportunities will be ensured for women, so that girls in rural or urban areas, wherever they are, can acquire skills to shape their futures.”
Reform Initiated
Last Update: 03-Aug-26
On 7 March 2026, the government reaffirmed its plan to introduce free education for women up to postgraduate level and expand women’s access to higher education and digital learning. On 16 May 2026, the prime minister announced at a public event that the government would extend free education for girls up to the undergraduate level and introduce scholarships for meritorious female students. In the FY2026–27 budget speech, the Finance Minister announced expanding free education for girls up to the undergraduate level. The Gender Budget Report FY2026–27 retained the broader manifesto objective of expanding free education for women up to postgraduate level. However, it presented the commitment as a policy objective rather than a fully designed and costed programme. Moreover, on 8 July 2026, the Hon’ble Prime Minister, in a statement to Parliament, reiterated this narrower commitment and announced scholarships for meritorious female students.
Observation
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Although the government has continued to reaffirm its commitment, its public position remains focused on free education up to the honours/undergraduate level, rather than the postgraduate (Master's) level promised in the BNP election manifesto. Moreover, the absence of verifiable information regarding its implementation makes it difficult to assess whether the manifesto commitment has progressed to implementation.
The likely benefit is also limited because the measure appears to apply mainly to public institutions, where tuition is already heavily subsidised for both women and men. It does not address other major costs such as admission fees, examinations, books, devices, transport and accommodation. Private universities and colleges have not been placed under any verified obligation to provide free education, even though many students rely on them because places in established public institutions are limited. A fee waiver also does not resolve concerns over uneven educational quality, particularly across many National University-affiliated colleges.
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