How returnee graduates are transforming Bangladesh's workforce

I first boarded a flight to Malaysia to pursue my bachelor's degree in English Language and Journalism.

I carried with me a suitcase of books, some nervous excitement, and a family's quiet hope. Like countless Bangladeshi families, mine saw education abroad not only as an academic pursuit but as a promise, a chance to grow in ways that might not be possible at home.

After completing my studies at UCSI University, I returned to Bangladesh three months after graduation. Within a month, I joined The Business Standard as a Feature Writer. The transition was deeply symbolic for me. From studying stories about others, I was now writing my own among the people shaping a new Bangladesh.

According to data from Bangladesh Bank, Bangladeshi students spent $533.2 million in FY 2023–2024 and $662.2 million in FY 2024–2025 on education-related services abroad. UNESCO recorded 52,799 Bangladeshi students enrolled outside the country in 2023, a number that is 2.19 times higher than a decade ago. Behind these statistics are thousands of dreams like mine, fuelled by ambition and sustained by the hope of coming back to make a difference.

But what happens after we return? That is the story often left untold.

Bridges between worlds

For Aldin Bin Amin, the return was less about reversing direction and more about connecting two worlds. A graduate of Coventry University with an MSc in International Marketing, Aldin came back to Bangladesh in 2019 and quickly joined an advertising firm as an accounts manager.

"The exposure I got in the UK taught me how storytelling and data go hand in hand in marketing," Aldin told me over coffee in Banani. "When I came back, I realised our local industry had incredible creative potential, but we were often missing structured strategic thinking. That is what I wanted to bring."

Aldin's job, he said, feels like a constant balancing act between global standards and local realities. His agency now works with both multinational and home-grown brands, many of which are increasingly aware of the need to compete in an international marketplace.

"The biggest change I have seen is that clients are now asking how to position their brands for global recognition, not just domestic appeal. That mindset shift is massive," he said.

Classrooms abroad to industries at home

Over the last decade, as more students have gone abroad for higher education, many have also returned with an urge to contribute to Bangladesh's growing economy. While the "brain drain" narrative once dominated discussions about overseas education, a quiet reversal is taking shape, a brain gain of sorts.

Fahim Ahmed, who completed his MSc at the University of Calgary, is one such example. After years abroad, he came back and founded his own chemical company in Dhaka.

"When I was in Canada, I realised how essential sustainable industrial practices were becoming worldwide," Fahim said. "Bangladesh's manufacturing sector has immense potential—but it needs innovation from within. That is why I decided to return."

His company now focuses on producing environmentally safer chemical solutions for local industries. "I wanted to take what I learnt about research and corporate ethics and localise it," he explained. "We do not just make products, we are trying to redefine how the industry thinks about responsibility."

According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, the country's industrial sector grew by 9.61% in 2023, a sign that the economy is becoming more diverse and complex. Entrepreneurs like Fahim are helping steer that growth toward sustainability and innovation.

Taste of global experience

For Fahim Jamir, returning home meant bringing back not just knowledge but flavour. A graduate of a culinary institute in Singapore, where he completed his Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Culinary Arts, Fahim now runs a cooking school in Dhaka while working full-time as a chief at a five-star hotel.

"In Singapore, I learnt precision, discipline, and respect for ingredients," he said, smiling as he described his kitchen. "When I came back, I realised how hungry—literally and figuratively—Bangladesh was for modern culinary training."

His cooking school has become a small revolution of its own. "Many of my students come from rural areas or small towns. They want to enter the hospitality industry but lack proper training. My goal is to give them the tools to compete internationally without leaving home," he added.

Culinary education is still in its infancy in Bangladesh, but chefs like Fahim are changing perceptions. The hospitality and tourism sector, which accounted for around 3% of GDP in 2023, is expanding rapidly, creating demand for professionally trained chefs and service experts.

"When I teach, I always tell my students: food is not just taste, it is culture, identity, and opportunity," he said. "If I can pass that on, I have done my part."

New kind of patriotism

Each of these stories, whether in journalism, marketing, entrepreneurship, or culinary arts, speaks to a broader transformation taking place across Bangladesh's workforce. These returnees are not merely coming back to find jobs; they are reshaping industries, introducing global standards, and redefining what it means to be successful.

It is a quiet kind of patriotism, not in slogans or speeches, but in actions and ideas.

When I asked Aldin if he ever considered staying abroad, he paused for a moment before replying, "Of course, the thought crossed my mind. But I felt my skills would mean more here. I did not just want a good job, I wanted meaningful impact."

That sentiment is seen through every conversation I had. Whether it was Fahim Ahmed talking about ethical business practices or Fahim Jamir mentoring young chefs, the underlying theme remained the same: home is not just where we return, it is where we build.

Still, the journey home is not without challenges. Many returnees face difficulties adjusting to work environments that are less structured or slower-paced than what they experienced abroad. Infrastructure gaps, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and limited research opportunities often stand in the way.

Yet, the determination to adapt and contribute prevails. As one education consultant told me, "The mindset is changing. Ten years ago, returning home after studying abroad was seen as a fallback. Now, it is becoming a deliberate choice."

Bangladesh's economy, projected to grow at around 6.5% in 2025, offers fertile ground for this new wave of globally trained professionals. With improved digital connectivity, start-up ecosystems, and growing demand for skilled labour, returnees are finding ways to integrate their international exposure into local realities.

We're writing together

For me, returning home was not about giving up something better; it was about bringing something back. The stories I now write, the people I meet, and the changes I witness daily remind me that Bangladesh's progress is being written not just by those who stayed but also by those who left and chose to return.

Every returning graduate I have met carries a story of both departure and return, of learning from the world and finding ways to give back to the place that first gave them roots.

Their journeys may have begun abroad, but the real work, the lasting impact, is unfolding right here at home.