ABSTRACT
This chapter illustrates how the use of English as a medium of instruction (EMI) in private universities reproduces inequality in higher education in Bangladesh. Private universities, as neoliberal entities, have been in operation in the country since the early 1990s. The sector has experienced a substantial growth since then, far exceeding the number of public universities. A defining characteristic of these universities is the use of EMI which marks a clear contrast with public universities, as the latter operate through the mixed medium of Bangla (BM) and English (EM). The qualitative case study reported in this chapter investigated BM- and EM-educated students’ experiences of EMI at private universities. Data were collected from 26 students through in-depth interviews. Analyses of the data led to identifying four categories of inequality including systemic, academic, instrumental and social in favour of EM-educated students and against BM-educated students. The chapter contributes to our understanding of the academic and social outcomes of EMI as a global phenomenon.
