Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh APUB

21/08/2026

Heartfelt Cngratulations and Warmest Felicitations...........

The Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh (APUB) extends its heartfelt congratulations and warmest felicitations to His Excellency Mr. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on his election as the President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Hon’ble Chancellor of all universities.

On this momentous occasion, APUB expresses its profound respect and best wishes to His Excellency for a successful tenure marked by wisdom, integrity and visionary leadership.

APUB is confident that under His Excellency’s esteemed leadership, Bangladesh’s higher education sector will continue to advance, with greater emphasis on academic excellence, quality assurance, research, innovation and the development of a future-ready generation.

19/08/2026

PhD Program to Be Introduced at Private Universities Soon:
Education Minister

https://www.prothomalo.com/education/dry4txe2n9

বেসরকারি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়গুলোয় শিগগিরই পিএইচডি প্রোগ্রাম চালুর উদ্যোগ নেওয়া হবে বলে জানিয়েছেন শিক্ষামন্ত্রী আ ন ....

18/08/2026

A groundbreaking milestone for Bangladesh’s higher education sector, the QS Bangladesh Forum was held in the country for the very first time.

Here are the voices of the organisers and partners.

17/08/2026

QS Bangladesh Forum 2026 Held for the First Time in Bangladesh
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The QS Bangladesh Forum 2026, themed Benchmark Bangladesh: Building World-Class Universities Through Global Standards,”was held in Dhaka on 17 August 2026 for the first time in Bangladesh. The landmark initiative was organised by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), hosted by the American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB), and supported by the University Grants Commission (UGC), Bangladesh and the Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh (APUB). The forum brought together nearly 400 distinguished participants from across Bangladesh’s higher education sector.

The forum brought together distinguished academics, Vice-Chancellors of public and private universities, founders of private universities, members of the UGC, policymakers, government representatives, representatives of diplomatic missions, international organisations and development partners, as well as representatives from the industrial sector.

The opening session featured Dr. Ashwin Fernandes, Vice President–Strategic & International Engagement, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS); Mr. Ishtiaque Abedin, Founder Member, AIUB & Secretary General of APUB; Dr. Md. Sabur Khan, Chairman, APUB; Mr. Jason Newman, Chief Commercial Officer, QS; Ms. Nadia Anwar, Chairman, Board of Trustees, AIUB; Prof. Dr. Mamun Ahmed, Chairman, UGC; and Dr. A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon, MP, Hon’ble Minister for Education and Primary and Mass Education.

The forum featured sessions led by Dr. Ashwin Fernandes, QS Vice President–Strategic & International Engagement; Mr. Jason Newman, QS Chief Commercial Officer; and Mr. Rami Awad, Regional Partnerships Director. The sessions focused on the QS rankings landscape, the QS World and Asia University Rankings methodologies, and rankings data submission for the 2028 cycle.

Two high-level panel discussions were held during the afternoon. The first, titled “From Campus to Capability: Closing Bangladesh’s Future Skills Gap in the AI Era,” was moderated by Mr. Jason Newman and featured Prof. Dr. Abdullah-AL-Mamun, Member, UGC; Dr. Carmen Z. Lamagna, Member, Board of Trustees, AIUB; Prof. Dr. Mohammad Al-Forkan, Vice-Chancellor, Chittagong University; Prof. Dr. Syed Ferhat Anwar, Vice-Chancellor, Brac University; and Mr. Shafiqul Islam Sarker, Managing Director, Purbani Group.

The second panel, titled “Accelerating Digital Transformation in Higher Education,” was moderated by Dr. Md. Abdur Rahman, Pro Vice- Chancellor and featured Prof. Dr. Md Khairul Islam, Vice-Chancellor, SUST; Dr. Md. Sabur Khan, Chairman, Board of Trustees, DIU; Prof. M. Tamim, Vice-Chancellor, IUB; and Prof. Dr. Md. Abul Kashem Mia, Vice-Chancellor, UIU.

During the concluding session, Dr. Carmen Z. Lamagna, former Vice-Chancellor and Member of the Board of Trustees of AIUB, delivered the Vote of Thanks, bringing the first-ever QS Bangladesh Forum to a close.

The forum ended with a short cultural session presented by the AIUB Art and Performance Club, followed by a grand dinner, providing an opportunity for guests and participants to connect and celebrate the successful conclusion of the landmark event.

The forum served as a significant platform for dialogue among academia, government, international stakeholders and industry on strengthening Bangladesh’s universities through global standards, developing future-ready skills, and accelerating digital transformation in higher education.

#𝘼𝙄𝙐𝘽

08/08/2026

Elevating Bangladeshi Higher Education to Global Heights!

The Event: Benchmark Bangladesh: QS Bangladesh Forum 2026

For the very first time in Bangladesh, QS Quacquarelli Symonds is bringing its landmark initiative, with the support of UGC and APUB, to be hosted by AIUB. This highly significant forum will bring together QS representatives, government ministers, UGC officials, Vice-Chancellors from both public and private universities, leading academicians, and key stakeholders in higher education.

This is an unparalleled and exclusive opportunity for Bangladeshi higher education institutions to learn directly from **QS—the world’s leading university rankings organization—**about strategies for enhancing global rankings, visibility, and international recognition.

Join leaders and changemakers from across Bangladesh’s higher education sector as we come together to shape the future of our universities!

#𝘼𝙄𝙐𝘽

25/07/2026

Students' Innovation Fuels Optimism for Bangladesh's Technology-Driven Future.
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At the National Semiconductor Symposium & BEAR Summit 2026, held in Dhaka today, Dr. Md. Sabur Khan, Hon'ble Chairman of the Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh (APUB) and Daffodil Group, highlighted key issues relating to Bangladesh's technological advancement, innovation, and skilled human resource development before Hon'ble Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman.

Dr. Khan particularly highlighted the remarkable achievements of Bangladeshi students in developing innovative projects, AI-driven solutions, and technology-based approaches to addressing real-world challenges. He drew the Hon'ble Prime Minister's attention to the immense potential of the country's young innovators and emphasized the need for continued support to nurture their creativity and technological capabilities.

The Hon'ble Prime Minister highly appreciated the students' innovative initiatives, encouraged their efforts, and expressed his strong commitment to supporting and sustaining such innovation-driven activities across the country.

During the discussion, Dr. Khan also proposed the reactivation of the Prime Minister's ICT Task Force to further accelerate Bangladesh's digital transformation and technological development. It is noteworthy that Dr. Khan served as a member of the ICT Task Force from 2002 to 2003. The Hon'ble Prime Minister responded positively and assured him that the proposal would receive due consideration.

Dr. Khan emphasized that strong collaboration among the government, universities, and industry will be the key to transforming Bangladesh into an innovation-driven, technology-enabled, and knowledge-based economy, capable of competing successfully in the global digital landscape.

16/07/2026

https://thedailycampus.com/mukto-column/263938?fbclid=IwdGRjcATFmsxjbGNrBMWV42V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHgT9dxeA5Rv6RvwMvS-LkSsxH1w19RToXrnKIcHA-YKikCGWkm1hGuefI_qY_aem_saADoQLP1dE0sKU42bhGnQ

শিক্ষায় যদি সত্যিকারের উদ্ভাবন আনতে হয়, তবে বিশাল অঙ্কের বিনিয়োগ অপরিহার্য। শিক্ষাকে যদি আমরা ‘নলেজ ইন্ডাস্ট্রি’ হিসেবে ঘোষণা করি, তবে এখানে বিলিয়ন ডলারের দেশি-বিদেশি বিনিয়োগ আসা সময়ের ব্যাপার জরুরি।

একজন বিদেশি বিনিয়োগকারী যদি ১০ হাজার কোটি টাকা নিয়ে এখানে বিশ্বমানের বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় করতে চান, আন্তর্জাতিক শিক্ষার্থী আকর্ষণ করতে চান, তবে আমরা কেন সেই পথ বন্ধ করে রাখব? বিনিয়োগ এলে বিনিয়োগকারী তার রিটার্ন চাইবেন, আর সেই রিটার্ন নিশ্চিত করার প্রতিযোগিতাতেই বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়গুলোতে গবেষণার গতি বাড়বে এবং শিক্ষার মান বহুগুণ উন্নত হবে। বিশ্বমানের ছাত্র ও শিক্ষাব্যবস্থা তৈরি হবে।

আর্থিক ও কাঠামোগত বৈষম্যের পাশাপাশি বেসরকারি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়গুলো চরম অ্যাকাডেমিক বৈষম্যেরও শিকার হচ্ছে। ১২ জুলাই, বেসরকারি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় সমিতি আয়োজিত মতবিনিময় সভায় ইউজিসি চেয়ারম্যান বলেছেন, তারা সরকারি ও বেসরকারি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়কে আলাদা করে দেখেন না। কিন্তু মাঠপর্যায়ের বাস্তবতা সম্পূর্ণ ভিন্ন। দেশের শীর্ষস্থানীয় বেসরকারি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়গুলোতে শত শত ফুলব্রাইট স্কলার, পিএইচডিধারী শিক্ষক ও বিদেশি ফ্যাকাল্টি পড়াচ্ছেন।

অথচ তাদের পিএইচডি ডিগ্রি দেওয়ার কোনো আইনি অনুমতি নেই! অন্যদিকে, সদ্য প্রতিষ্ঠিত এমন অনেক পাবলিক বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় রয়েছে যেখানে হয়ত পিএইচডিধারী শিক্ষক হাতেগোনা, ক্লাসরুমের সংকট চরমে; তবুও শুধু ‘পাবলিক’ তকমার কারণে তারা অনায়াসেই পিএইচডি ডিগ্রি দিচ্ছে। যোগ্যতার পরিমাপ না করে শুধুমাত্র আমলাতান্ত্রিক নিয়মের বেড়াজালে এমন বৈষম্য টিকিয়ে রাখা মেধার অবমূল্যায়ন। বিষয়টি ইউজিসি চেয়ারম্যান অনুধাবন করেছেন যা আশার আলো দেখাচ্ছে।

-অধ্যাপক ড. আবু ইউসুফ
পরিচালক, আইবিএ, ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়।

14/07/2026

At a glance of APUB program titled Implementing the National Budget 2026–2027 through Human Resource Development, Research, Innovation and Economic Growth.

12/07/2026

Implementing the National Budget 2026–2027: Private Universities Reaffirm Their Commitment to National Development
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The Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh (APUB) successfully organized a high-level policy dialogue on "Implementing the National Budget 2026–2027: The Role of Private Universities in Human Resources Development, Research, Innovation, and Economic Growth" on 12 July 2026 in Dhaka.

The event was graced by Hon'ble Finance and Planning Minister Mr. Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, MP, as the Chief Guest, while Prof. Dr. Mamun Ahmed, Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), attended as the Special Guest.

Dr. Md. Sabur Khan, Chairman of APUB, delivered the keynote presentation, outlining the critical role of private universities in producing skilled human resources, promoting research and innovation, creating employment opportunities, and accelerating Bangladesh's economic growth. He thanked the Government for reducing the income tax on private universities from 10% to 5% in the National Budget 2026–2027 and expressed hope that the remaining tax would eventually be withdrawn. He also called for government support for research, access to bank financing for permanent campus development, and approval of PhD programmes in qualified private universities.

During the dialogue, APUB presented a policy position paper recommending:
• Complete withdrawal of the remaining income tax on private universities;
• Increased government support for research and innovation;
• Access to financing for permanent campus development;
• Approval of PhD programmes in eligible private universities;
• Stronger industry–academia collaboration;
• Expansion of AI and data science education;
• Greater emphasis on graduate employability, internships, and career development.

The Hon'ble Finance Minister acknowledged the significant contribution of private universities and reaffirmed the Government's commitment to continued constructive engagement. He noted that reducing the income tax from 10% to 5% was a challenging but important policy decision and encouraged universities to utilize this opportunity to further strengthen research and innovation.

The UGC Chairman reiterated that public and private universities are equal partners in Bangladesh's higher education system and emphasized that improving educational quality will help retain talented students within the country.

The welcome address was delivered by Mr. Ishtiaque Abedin, Secretary General of APUB, while the vote of thanks was delivered by Mr. Benajir Ahmed, Vice Chairman of APUB. The event was attended by APUB leaders, Chairmen of Boards of Trustees, Vice Chancellors, distinguished academicians, and senior representatives from private universities across Bangladesh.

The dialogue concluded with a shared commitment among policymakers, regulators, and university leaders to work together in building a skilled workforce, advancing research and innovation, creating employment opportunities, and positioning Bangladesh as a regional hub for quality higher education.

https://www.prothomalo.com/business/economics/crtf0o4tpy

#𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

30/06/2026

A Positive Milestone for Bangladesh's Private Higher Education Sector
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The Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh (APUB) is pleased to share a significant achievement for the country's private university sector.

Following APUB's sustained advocacy—including formal representations to the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance, the National Board of Revenue (NBR), meetings with policymakers, and continued media engagement—the Government has reconsidered the proposed income tax on private universities.

We sincerely appreciate the Hon'ble Prime Minister's timely and education-friendly decision to reduce the income tax on private universities from 10% to 5% under the National Budget for FY 2026–2027.

Although APUB's ultimate goal remains the complete withdrawal of income tax on non-profit private universities, this decision represents a significant and encouraging step forward for higher education in Bangladesh.

Education is not an expense—it is an investment in the future of Bangladesh.