Students going abroad could get Tk 10 lakh loan support: Nur

Students aspiring to pursue higher education abroad will be able to access loans of up to Tk 10 lakh as financial support, State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Nurul Haque Nur said today.

The directive came from the Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who instructed that the loans be provided through the Probashi Kalyan Bank, the state minister said, following a meeting at the Secretariat.

He said the loan facility is intended to help students meet bank guarantee or solvency requirements often needed for studying overseas. The benefit will be available for those planning to study in countries such as South Korea, Japan, China, and Germany.

“This is not a cash handout for personal use. The loan will be provided strictly to facilitate students’ departure for higher studies abroad, and it cannot be used for other purposes,” Nur said.

He added that many students face difficulties securing loans from conventional banks due to requirements such as guarantors and complex procedures. The new initiative aims to ease those barriers.

Highlighting the broader benefits, the state minister said Bangladeshi students who go abroad for education often become part of the workforce in host countries, contributing to remittance inflows.

The prime minister stressed the importance of learning third languages, the state minister further said, noting that many Bangladeshi workers are compelled to accept low-paying jobs due to language barriers, according to a UNB report.

Separately, Nur expressed optimism that Bangladesh’s labour market will not be significantly affected by the ongoing war in the Middle East, saying demand for Bangladeshi workers may even increase.

Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury, Prime Minister’s Adviser Mahdi Amin, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam and other senior officials attended the meeting, which was presided over by the premier.