Who're monitoring the consultancies sending students abroad?

Ratul spent two years and nearly Tk 5.0 million at a private university in Malaysia his consultancy recommended. The firm never mentioned the institution lacked proper accreditation. When he returned to Dhaka with his degree, employers refused to recognise it. He remains unemployed. His consultancy had partnerships with dozens of such universities, earning commissions for each student they sent, regardless of the institution's reputation or the student's future prospects.

For many students in Bangladesh, the dream of studying abroad is a deeply held ambition. It represents a chance for a better education and a brighter career. To make this dream real, thousands of students and their families depend on educational consultancy firms. These agencies promise to handle the complex journey from choosing a university to getting a visa. But is this promise too good to be true? The real life experiences of students show a system that works without clear rules and often fails to prepare students for the truth.

An industry without walls: Over 52,799 Bangladeshi students travelled abroad for higher studies in 2023 alone, tripling from around 16,000 in 2008. Between 70,000 and 90,000 students now consult agencies annually. Hundreds of study abroad agencies operate across Bangladesh. Yet there exists no mandatory government licensing system for these consultancies.

A main problem is the complete lack of government oversight. We asked a representative from a firm called 'Career Path' if they have any official registration. The answer was clear. "No, we do not have any registration from the government, nor do we need any," he said. Because there is no required licence, almost anyone can start a consultancy business. This creates an environment where both honest helpers and dishonest operators can exist side by side. The man from Career Path also said his firm has never been checked or audited by any government body.

Whilst the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) exists as a voluntary trade body with approximately 2,400 members, it focuses primarily on labour migration. There is no mandatory registration system for overseas education consultancies. Firms operate without standardised qualifications, verified university partnerships, or accountability measures.

False promises and hidden costs: This lack of rules has a direct effect on the quality of service and the truthfulness of the advice. Firms like Career Path offer many services: university applications, visa processing, and English language coaching. Most consultancies in Bangladesh charge between Tk 20,000 and 50,000, though hidden costs frequently emerge later. But the important question is whether their guidance is honest and complete.

Sadman, a student who went to the USA in 2023 with the help of a consultancy, said his academic life was mostly as promised. "The coursework, the university, the quality of education did meet my expectations," he confirmed. But his overall experience was not perfect. He faced a practical problem he did not expect. He had to move to a different university because of difficult transportation issues, a real world detail his consultancy never warned him about.

The biggest letdown for students often is not about classes, but about life in that city in the USA. Sadman's main disappointment came from the false picture his consultancy painted. "The consultancy failed to prepare me for is when they claimed that life will take a positive turn when I arrive in the USA," he shared. He now feels the firm showed him an idealised and happy version of life to convince him to go, mainly so they could get their fee. "What they should have done is not giving false hopes and being honest about the country's situation," he explained. He added that he was already determined to move abroad and did not need these false stories to sway his decision.

This experience is very different from the reasons students go to consultancies in the first place. Payel, a student who wants to study in Germany, explained why she is using one. She said it is because she has limited knowledge about the application process and finds it hard to get reliable information. She needs expert help with her documents and choosing the right university. Her story is the story of many. Students and parents often feel lost in the complicated steps and see consultancies as their trusted guide.

The way these firms behave during the process is therefore very important. The high stakes for families and the low level of rules can lead to bad practices. Some consultants use overly positive sales talk. Others become hard to reach after they receive their payment. The pressure to get an admission can mean consultants push students towards universities that pay them commission, rather than universities that best fit the student's needs.

Another undiscussed aspect is the financial burden of hidden costs. Consultancies often quote a base fee but many students report unexpected charges emerging later for essential services like document couriers, bank statement processing, or mandatory "orientation sessions". These unplanned expenses place severe strain on middle-class families who budget carefully. The lack of upfront transparency about the full financial commitment turns the process into a stressful economic ordeal, beyond the already high costs of tuition and living abroad.

When Bangladesh's reputation suffers: The consequences of this unregulated system extend far beyond individual disappointment. When unscrupulous agents send unprepared students abroad or submit fake applications, countries respond with stricter measures that punish genuine students.

A 2024 study by Portland State University found that approximately 65 per cent of applications from India and Bangladesh were likely fraudulent. Australia doubled student visa fees from 710 to 1,600 Australian dollars in 2024, raised the minimum IELTS requirement from 5.5 to 6.0, and introduced a Genuine Student Test. Canada has sought mass visa cancellation powers citing fraud concerns from Bangladesh and India. Student visa denial rates for Bangladeshi applicants have exceeded 50 per cent in several countries during 2024.

Over 30,000 Bangladeshi visa applications were rejected by EU member states in 2024 alone. Multiple countries including Vietnam, Laos, and Indonesia have suspended or severely restricted visa issuance to Bangladeshi nationals. When one agent submits fraudulent applications, every Bangladeshi student suffers through increased scrutiny, longer processing times, and higher rejection rates.

The way forward: So, what is the way to fix this? The solution needs steps from both the government and from students.

First, the government should make it a rule that every educational consultancy must register with a designated regulatory body under the Ministry of Education. This registration should require consultancies to demonstrate verified partnerships with universities, maintain transparent fee structures, and submit to regular audits. This would create a system for accountability and a proper way to handle complaints. Any firm operating without registration should face legal penalties.

Second, the government must launch a nationwide awareness campaign to educate families about how to verify consultancy and university credentials. This campaign should teach parents and students to check university websites directly, demand written contracts detailing all costs, and recognise red flags such as guaranteed admissions. The campaign should provide a public database where families can verify registration and review complaint records.

Third, students and parents must be smart consumers. They should check a firm's history by talking to past students directly. They need to ask specific questions about all costs, what support they will get after arrival, and what happens if visa applications fail. They should verify university partnerships by contacting admissions offices directly via official email addresses found on university websites. They should be careful of any firm that makes big promises about a perfect life abroad or guarantees admission to top schools.

Protecting dreams, protecting reputation: The dream of studying in another country is a huge life decision. The job of an educational consultancy should be to build that dream on a foundation of truth and careful planning. As Sadman's story shows, even when the academic part works out, the experience can be damaged by a lack of honest preparation. For every student like Payel who is looking for genuine help, there must be a system that ensures consultancies act as professional partners, not just as salespeople. The current situation where anyone can open a consultancy without qualifications or oversight must end. When fraudulent agents damage our country's credibility abroad, they steal opportunities from deserving students. They make every legitimate Bangladeshi applicant appear suspicious to foreign visa officers.

Closing this guidance gap requires transparency, sensible rules, and families who ask the right questions. It is about replacing false hope with a clear and honest road map for success. Only then can the consultancy industry fulfil its proper role as a bridge between Bangladeshi students and their rightful place in the global educational landscape.

rupok.du.ds@gmail.com, zahidhossain200122@gmail.com