The economics of brain drain: What push and pull factors drive Bangladeshi talents abroad?

Illustration: TBS

The greatest Bangladeshi dream is to leave Bangladesh. And today, it seems to be true for a majority of Bangladeshi youth. 

It comes as no shock that 55% of Bangladeshis aged between 18 and 35 years are looking for the slightest chance to leave the country, according to a recent study titled 'Next Generation Bangladesh 2024' by British Council. 

But what is the economics at play behind brain drain? What are the push and pull factors?

The most attractive countries for Bangladeshi youth are Saudi Arabia (27%), Canada (18%) and Australia (13%), especially during the past few months of 2025. The aspiring emigrants are attracted by world-class education opportunities (26%), language, history and culture (25%), employment opportunities (23%), and common religion (16%). 

These statistics show that emigrants are not driven solely by the search for higher degrees or better jobs. They also care deeply about cultural and social compatibility: whether the local language is one they are familiar with, how many religious institutions (e.g., mosques, temples, cathedrals) are nearby, and whether others around them observe the same traditions and festivals. 

In short, emigrants are searching for more than economic opportunity; they want a holistic experience and, if the time comes, to settle down. This study also portrays the disillusionment in youth over the span of eight years since 2015, when 60% of the youth had faith in the country's socio-economic trajectory, which fell down to 51% in 2023. 

Today, both men and women increasingly feel empowered to choose a foreign life, buoyed by more cooperative family attitudes and a noticeable rise in female participation in tertiary education. 

According to Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics (BANBEIS), in 2023, more women (54.3%) complete higher secondary education compared to men, though participation drops off sharply beyond that level. 

Furthermore, despite persistent gaps in economic participation, cultural snags and freedom of mobility, the survey suggests that as more women acquire higher education and vocational training, their aspirations for migration and global opportunity are growing in step with their male counterparts.

The Population and Housing Census of 2022 reveals that the youth population between 15 and 35 years has grown by 15.8% since the last decade, but so did their exodus, meaning the government has failed to implement necessary policies to retain them in the country. 

Among 176 countries, Bangladesh has scored 6.7 out of 10 in "Human Flight and Brain Drain 2024"; the global average remains at 4.98, portraying how the country is at an alarming loss of young energy. 

Notably, this indicator measures how the loss of skilled, educated people, maybe due to economic collapse or political persecution, hurts a country's development by reducing its economic and professional capacity. Bangladesh has surpassed its neighbours like India and Pakistan, who scored below 5.5. 

'Youth Survey 2025', conducted by the South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM), found 72.3% of young, returnee migrants want to go back in the near future. It revealed there are many reasons as to why a Bangladeshi returns to their homeland: deportation/legal issues (2.9%), being a victim of racial discrimination (2.9%), health emergencies (5.9%), unemployment (5.9%), ambition to start a business (5.9%), family ties (8.8%), feuds with upper brass (8.8%), job insecurity (11.8%), despicable living and working conditions (17.7%), termination of contract (23.5%), etc. 

A grim picture indeed, where none of the factors are a tug from their homeland, meaning migrants only return when they have to, not because the government provides them with an incentive. 

Interestingly, among the youth who have never set foot overseas, only 21.4% were very interested in working abroad, and 57.3% are not; the remaining are still unsure or somewhat considering the prospect. These data could be further dissected in terms of their acquired level of education, whether they live in a city or village, and age. 

Currently, when they are cross-tabulated across gender, it reveals a very unsurprising picture: of those who are not at all interested in working overseas, 70.5% are female, but among those who are, 13.4% are of the fairer sex. 

There are several factors that help explain this gender gap: Women often fear mistreatment, abuse, or exploitation abroad, as has been noted in reports from Bangladesh and other migrant-sending countries. 

Economic constraints, such as high costs of migration, travel, securing work contracts, or training requirements, also deter many. Social and cultural pressures play a role; expectations that women should prioritise family, caregiving responsibilities, and concerns about safety or reputation can limit willingness to migrate. 

Legal and institutional barriers are also significant: lack of recognition of qualifications abroad, difficulty in getting reliable information, fear of being trapped in informal or undocumented employment, or absence of strong protection systems. Lastly, negative stories or news of returned migrant women who suffered abuse, unpaid wages, or mental health strain make the prospect less attractive. 

In today's world, everyone expects more than just a high salary; they want safe roads, quality housing, clean air, parks for their children, and accessible education. Many plan to go abroad not just for themselves but for their future generations. While solutions will not materialise overnight, our government must step up. We need a multifaceted approach to curb the mass migration of highly educated youth.

The reasons young Bangladeshis want to work overseas are obvious, as found out from the same survey: hefty salary and lucrative benefits (71.5%), better standard of living (68.4%), supporting family financially (53.7%), lack of local job opportunities (47.9%), better work environment, job security, and work-life balance (35%), foreign experience (21.9%), and political volatility (17%). 

These are the few priority areas the government must focus on if they want to bring back the emigrants or at least slow down the brain drain. For many students flying abroad is only a segue to work and remain abroad; 25.9% want to study first and then work later, 25.5% will be happy with any semi-skilled job, 20.9% want low-skilled jobs, 19.4% will accept highly paid skilled tasks, and 8% want to start off a business venture. 

The problem is more than fundamental; it reflects the rocky road from education to employment, where jobs are inadequate and unrelated to what we learn in classrooms. It also reflects persistent corruption and crippled institutions.

The worst kind of brain drain is when highly educated youth leave the country with disappointment because they have already given up. Even though the migration takes place on the pretense of higher studies, they have no intention of ever returning. As a result, Bangladeshi youth are notorious for poorer grades, frequent dropouts, and backdoor odd jobs. 

These students make a far-reaching impact even on those who someday want to pursue their higher studies abroad — for example, the Danish government is set to tighten visa rules for Bangladeshi students by cutting the post-study work limit from three years to only one, and may also bar their family members from tagging along. 

Furthermore, many developed countries have more stringent measures when evaluating Bangladeshi citizens' visa applications, thanks to our poor passport ranking; Bangladesh currently ranks 100 out of 106 countries on the 2025 Henley Passport Index, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to only 38 destinations. 

Despite the mushroom-like fast growth of universities across the country, the number of Bangladeshi students who have moved abroad has trebled over the last 15 years. Those who can afford it, and even those who cannot, have tried to move abroad with the help of banks and agencies. 

But is studying abroad truly a bed of roses, as we think? When I asked six friends and family members currently pursuing higher education overseas, their unanimous response was a painful laugh followed by a resounding "no". Many grapple with the overwhelming stress of balancing academics, part-time employment, financial constraints, and daily chores like cooking. 

In today's world, everyone expects more than just a high salary; they want safe roads, quality housing, clean air, parks for their children, and accessible education. Many plan to go abroad not just for themselves but for their future generations. While solutions will not materialise overnight, our government must step up. We need a multifaceted approach to curb the mass migration of highly educated youth, starting with major reforms in the education system, including aligning academic programs with industry demands and fostering research opportunities. 

The government must also implement policies that ensure competitive wages and tax incentives for returning students. On top of that, maintaining political stability and combatting corruption are crucial for young professionals and even aspiring business entrepreneurs to feel secure and valued. 

The government must ensure decent living conditions, world-class education, and opportunities that allow young people to choose their own paths rather than feeling compelled to leave the country any chance they get. Only then, someday, Bangladeshis will be as happy to catch a return flight as they are now leaving the country. 

Sketch: TBS

Neeladri Naviya Noveli is a Research Associate at South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM) and a lifetime overthinker. She can be reached at nn.noveli@gmail.com.  

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard.