Third-language to be introduced at 50 varsities by Dec

DHAKA: Third-language education will be introduced at 50 universities across Bangladesh by December this year to expand opportunities for employment and higher education at home and abroad, University Grants Commission (UGC) member Professor Dr Abdullah-Al-Mamun said on Saturday.

He made the remarks at the launch of the Confucius Institute at the University of Chittagong, jointly established by the University of Chittagong and China’s Yunnan Minzu University, at Bashundhara International Convention City in Dhaka.

Professor Mamun said the world is becoming increasingly interconnected, making knowledge of an additional language important for expanding students’ academic and professional opportunities as well as international communication.

He said the 2026 election manifesto places emphasis on expanding third-language education, including Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, German, Korean and Arabic, to increase educational and employment opportunities for students.

The UGC has taken an initiative to create third-language learning opportunities at the university level, with language centres to be established at universities across all divisional regions of the country.

Professor Mamun said the initiative would require both foreign and local language experts as well as appropriate teaching materials. The UGC will work closely with relevant embassies, with the Chinese Embassy expected to play an important role given the priority placed on Mandarin.

He also emphasized the need to move from “brain drain” to “brain circulation” by creating opportunities for Bangladeshi academics, researchers and professionals working abroad to contribute to the country’s education and research sectors.

He said visiting faculty programmes, summer schools, joint supervision, research collaboration and academic exchanges could help connect international knowledge networks with Bangladeshi universities.

Highlighting the importance of language in strengthening people-to-people ties between Bangladesh and China, Professor Mamun said the Confucius Institute would provide Bangladeshi students with opportunities to learn about Chinese language, history, literature and culture. It would also create opportunities for Chinese students and academics to learn about Bangladesh’s language, culture and society.

CPC Yunnan Provincial Committee Standing Committee member Zhao Junmin attended the event as the chief guest. Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, University of Chittagong Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Al-Forkan, Yunnan Minzu University Party Committee Secretary Ruan Zhaoqi, BKSP Director General Brigadier General Mohammad Saiful Ullah, and other teachers, students and officials were also present.