Brains without borders: How Bangladesh’s youth are shaping soft power diplomacy

In a world where statecraft is increasingly shaped by persuasion rather than power, Bangladesh's emerging strength lies not in its arsenal but in its aspiring minds. 

As a growing number of Bangladeshi students pursue education abroad, they carry with them not only the hope of personal transformation but also the subtle force of national influence. 

The role of youth in extending Bangladesh's soft power has become more visible and vital, particularly in the realms of education, culture, and transnational intellectual networks.

With universities from North America to Asia now hosting a rising number of Bangladeshi students, this mobility is not just a matter of academic pursuit — it is becoming a strategic avenue for soft power projection. These young scholars function as informal ambassadors, shaping how Bangladesh is perceived globally through their engagement in knowledge production, intercultural dialogue, and global citizenship.

Education as a strategic soft power channel

Bangladesh has actively pursued international educational linkages with key partners, including Japan, Malaysia, the UK, China, and Australia. These partnerships involve bilateral scholarship schemes, student and faculty exchanges, joint research projects, and cross-border academic programmes (British Council, 2023). 

Such cooperation has enabled Bangladesh to participate in intellectual forums that shape regional policy dialogues on climate change, digital transformation, and sustainable development.

Institutions like the Asian University Alliance (AUA) and the SAARC Consortium on Open and Distance Learning (SACODiL) exemplify regional education diplomacy. Bangladesh's participation in these initiatives not only elevates its academic profile but also increases its soft influence in shaping shared educational goals and developmental strategies (AUA, 2024).

Moreover, Bangladesh's digital education efforts, particularly in expanding remote learning infrastructure in underserved areas, have positioned the country as a potential innovator in inclusive education. These achievements, supported by multilateral cooperation, underscore Bangladesh's growing capacity to shape the discourse on education equity in the Global South (World Bank, 2022).

The diaspora as cultural and intellectual bridges

While remittances remain a dominant feature of the Bangladeshi diaspora's contribution, the educational and professional diaspora offers another dimension, one centred on knowledge diplomacy. 

Bangladeshi academics and professionals now occupy influential positions in global think tanks, universities, and research institutions. Their work often highlights issues aligned with Bangladesh's strategic interests, such as climate resilience, migrant rights, and development justice (OECD, 2023).

These diaspora communities often act as conduits for policy exchange and institutional collaboration. For example, joint university projects, diaspora-funded educational foundations, and global alumni networks have begun to play instrumental roles in linking Bangladeshi institutions with international counterparts. 

This "brain circulation" contributes not only to individual capacity building but also to Bangladesh's intellectual capital and its standing in international academic and policy-making spheres.

The diaspora's ability to participate in global discourse while maintaining cultural ties reinforces a powerful narrative: Bangladesh is not merely a recipient of global knowledge but an active contributor to it. Such representation enriches Bangladesh's image abroad and contributes to its soft power in ways that go beyond governmental diplomacy.

Culture, language, and identity as tools of diplomacy

One of Bangladesh's most prominent soft power successes is its global advocacy for linguistic and cultural rights, symbolised by International Mother Language Day. Initiated by Bangladesh and adopted by UNESCO, this observance commemorates the country's historic Language Movement while also advancing global awareness of linguistic diversity (UNESCO, 2023).

In academic spaces, Bangla language departments, South Asian studies programmes, and cultural festivals have created venues for representing Bangladesh's cultural narrative. Students and educators from Bangladesh frequently organise cultural exhibitions, lectures, and symposiums abroad, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of the country's literary and historical traditions. Such engagements reinforce Bangladesh's soft power by emphasising the values of pluralism, resilience, and cultural identity.

Structural barriers to educational diplomacy

Despite the potential, Bangladesh's education diplomacy is still hindered by several structural challenges. One is the persistent "brain drain" problem, wherein many high-achieving students choose to remain in host countries, depriving the domestic system of their expertise. This is exacerbated by limited research funding, bureaucratic inertia, and a lack of global visibility for Bangladeshi universities (OECD, 2023).

Bangladesh's foreign policy apparatus has yet to fully integrate education as a core diplomatic tool. The absence of dedicated education attachés in key missions, minimal engagement with global university networks, and fragmented internationalisation policies reflect a lack of cohesive strategy. Bridging this gap will require greater synergy between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education, with support from academic stakeholders.

Additionally, the growing restrictiveness of student visa policies in many Western nations poses a risk to equitable access. As higher education becomes more globalised, Bangladesh must also explore diversification in educational partnerships beyond traditional Anglophone destinations.

Conclusion: Investing in intellect for global influence

Bangladesh's youth represent more than demographic capital; they are the vessels through which ideas, innovation, and intercultural connections flow. As more young Bangladeshis become embedded in global academic ecosystems, they also become co-authors of the nation's international narrative. Their achievements abroad and engagements across borders serve as quiet but potent forms of diplomacy.

Fazlul Halim Rana

To harness this resource, Bangladesh must institutionalise educational diplomacy, enhance academic competitiveness, and support its diaspora in maintaining productive connections to home. This includes investing in research, fostering inclusive mobility policies, and promoting narratives that reflect the country's pluralism and promise.

In a global order increasingly influenced by soft power, Bangladesh's future influence may well depend on its ability to empower and elevate its brightest minds—those who carry their passports in one hand and their ideas in the other.

The author is a faculty member in the Department of International Relations at Jahangirnagar University. He can be reached at fazlul@juniv.edu