Govt working to curb syndicates exploiting students looking to study abroad: Shama Obaed

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam today (7 August) said the government is working to curb unscrupulous syndicates and brokers who exploit Bangladeshi students seeking to pursue higher education abroad by charging them excessive money.

"Unscrupulous syndicates or brokers take advantage of our students, who have to pay extremely high amounts of money to go abroad. The government is obviously aware of the issue and is working on it," she said.

The state minister said this while addressing the inaugural session of the two-day 14th International Education Expo 2026, organised by the Foreign Admission and Career Development Consultants Association of Bangladesh (FACD-CAB), at a city hotel. 

This year, the fair brought together representatives from 30 countries to provide consultancy services for around 300 world-class educational institutions around the world.

Shama Obaed said the foreign ministry has already opened a migration wing for the first time to address migration-related problems. The sole responsibility of this newly opened wing is to address all sorts of migration-related problems.

She urged FACD-CAB and others concerned to help the wing by providing necessary information to contain the unscrupulous syndicates in the student migration process.   

"Together, we have to work in a unified way here. We have to work together to bring these broker syndicates under the law. They are unfairly destroying the future of our children (students)," she said.

The state minister said the foreign ministry is ready to cooperate with FACD-CAB to make the migration process more transparent and accountable and to help it provide better services to Bangladeshi students.

She asked FACD-CAB to submit in writing its demands and problems so that the issues could be brought to the attention of the prime minister as well as the foreign ministry together with other concerned ministries, including the education, finance and home ministries, to fulfil their demands and address the problems.

Shama Obaed stressed the importance of creating a safe and investment-friendly environment in Bangladesh so that students attained overseas education and experience can return home and contribute to the country's development.

"We certainly want our children to go abroad and study. But at the same time, we need to create a safe, investment-friendly and secure environment in Bangladesh where they can return, invest and become entrepreneurs and thus help the government build the country," she said. 

Describing education as an important instrument of diplomacy, she said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to encourage educational and research partnerships between Bangladesh and other countries.

Bangladesh's missions abroad can help connect Bangladeshi institutions with international universities, facilitate academic cooperation and support the legitimate interests and welfare of Bangladeshi students.

Referring to the national budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the state minister said the government has given the highest-ever allocation to the education sector in the latest budget, reflecting its priority to education.

The international education fair, a flagship international education event, started at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, bringing together education consultants, international university representatives, students, and stakeholders under one platform.

Visitors need prior registration to visit the education fair from 10am to 8pm.

Visitors get the opportunity to interact directly with representatives of universities from different countries and receive guidance on scholarships, financial aid, tuition fees, visa processing and career planning.