Not a single university from Bangladesh has made it to the top 100 universities in Asia, according to the QS Asia University Rankings 2026 released by the UK-based global higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) on Tuesday, November 4.
The latest ranking evaluated 1,529 universities across Asia – the largest edition to date – underscoring the region’s increasingly competitive higher education landscape. While 46 Bangladeshi universities were included in the list, none managed to secure a position within the first 100, reflecting persistent challenges in global competitiveness, research output, and academic reputation.
Dhaka University slips 20 places
The country’s top public institution, Dhaka University (DU), ranked 132nd, slipping 20 places from 112th last year, marking a continued downward trend in its regional standing.
Following DU, North South University (NSU) ranked 149th, maintaining its position as Bangladesh’s leading private university in the QS list. The Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) came in 165th, completing the country’s top three entries.
Other universities in the ranking
Apart from these, several public and private universities appeared in lower tiers of the ranking. They include:
Daffodil International University, BRAC University, Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), Bangladesh Agricultural University, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), Islamic University of Technology (IUT), Khulna University, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET), and Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET).
Several private universities also made the list, including East West University, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST), Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), United International University (UIU), American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB), Stamford University Bangladesh, and University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), among others.
Regional comparison: Widening performance gap
While Bangladesh continues to expand its higher education base, its universities are lagging behind regional peers. Neighboring India placed 148 universities in the ranking, with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) among the top 10. Singapore’s National University (NUS) retained its spot as Asia’s top-ranked university, followed by Peking University (China) and The University of Hong Kong.
In contrast, Bangladesh’s universities continue to struggle in key performance indicators such as academic reputation, research citations, international faculty and student ratio, and employer reputation, which weigh heavily in the QS methodology.
Experts urge reform and investment
Education experts say the rankings underscore the need for policy reform, increased research funding, international collaboration, and governance autonomy for universities to improve quality and global competitiveness.
The road ahead
The inclusion of 46 Bangladeshi universities shows a growing presence in regional metrics, but the absence from the top 100 also signals that the country’s higher education system is still struggling to match global standards.
As Bangladesh aspires to achieve upper-middle-income status, experts warn that world-class universities – capable of innovation, high-impact research, and global partnerships – will be critical to sustaining long-term economic growth and competitiveness.