Year
2026
Reform Domain
Manifesto Watch
Women
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: 15-Oct-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 the postgraduate level.
Observation
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On 9 September 2026, Bangladesh’s official statement to the UN Women Executive Board identified free education for girls up to the postgraduate level among the government’s women-centred initiatives. As a result, the government’s public statements do not yet present a fully consistent position on whether the commitment extends only to undergraduate education or also covers the postgraduate level.
The continued reference to free education for women in national and international policy statements nevertheless indicates that the commitment remains active. The next important step will be to clarify the scope of the programme and establish a verifiable implementation mechanism, including which institutions and education-related costs will be covered.
If the initiative goes beyond tuition fees and also addresses costs such as admission, examinations, books, devices, transport and accommodation, it could significantly improve access for women students. Where feasible, extending the framework to students in private universities and colleges and linking the initiative with efforts to improve education quality, particularly in National University-affiliated colleges, could further strengthen the commitment's impact.
Resources
- BNP's Election Manifesto 2026
- Gender Budget FY 2026-27
- Govt firmly committed to men-women equal rights
- Govt plans free education for girls up to honours level: PM
- National Budget Speech FY2026-27
- PM announces free education for girls up to undergraduate level
- Statement at the Second Regular Session of the Executive Board of UN Women 2026 on 09 September 2026