Higher education in Bangladesh can be divided into two wings . One is degree awarding universities and the other is colleges under the National University ( NU ) . There were only four public universities in Bangladesh in 1971. At present , there are 35 such universities . However , private universities are new in this country . In the early 1990s , the country has experienced a huge growth in private universities .
Most of the private universities are established in and around Dhaka . At present , there are 79 private of universities . On the other hand , the number of colleges providing higher education is around 1,400 . Most of them offer BA ( pass ) and only one - third of them offer B.A. ( Honors ) courses .
Besides , some of the colleges offer MA degrees as wBesidesell . All of these colleges run under the National University . But due to limited capacity , only a small number of students get chance in universities . Thus , each year a large number of students s are denied higher education . Besides , students of the lower middle class do not get easy access to higher education due to poverty . Moreover , those who get chance in the universities , have limited access to facilities relating to their study . Unfortunately , only about 12 percent of graduates enter higher educational institutions .
More than 80 percent of these students are admitted to NU affiliated colleges . However , public universities are the first choices of most students . Actually , the public universities offer a wide range of subjects in Science , Commerce , Liberal Arts , Humanities , Engineering and Technology , Law , Education and Medicine . Besides , public universities attract the best minds to teaching . Again , library , laboratory , Internet and research facilities are much better there than anywhere else in the country . In addition , seminars , symposiums , lectures , workshops , debates , and exhibitions are often held in these institutions .
So , there is a wide scope for national and international exposure for promising students . Moreover , public universities offer residential and boarding facilities at low cost .