What it takes to freelance today
Bangladesh has emerged as a global powerhouse in the gig economy. A 2017 study by the Oxford Internet Institute (OII) shows that Bangladesh has the second-largest supply of online labourers, with a labour share of 16 percent. According to a 2023 report from Prothom Alo, there are approximately 6,50,000 active freelancers in the country, contributing around USD 1 billion to the national economy annually. For many students, this digital marketplace has become a primary avenue for professional growth, allowing them to bypass the traditional entry-level job crisis where graduate unemployment stands at a staggering 13.5 percent. However, as the market matures and technology advances, the strategies for success are changing. Students are no longer viewing these positions as temporary roles but as early career foundations that require a sophisticated mix of technical depth and professional ethics.
The shift from quantity to quality
The global marketplace is often criticised for being oversaturated, yet experienced freelancers argue that the saturation only exists at the surface level.
Zakaria Tasrik, a recent graduate from Dhaka University’s Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering Department, has been working as a 3D designer in Blender since 2020. He believes that the overcrowding in the market actually creates opportunities for those willing to specialise. “Most freelancers focus on trying to be a jack of all trades and master of none, which leaves a massive gap for niche markets,” Zakaria explains.
The necessity for specialisation is driven by the reality that international clients are increasingly looking for consultants rather than just labourers. In the past, a basic understanding of a software tool was enough to secure a project, but today, the expectation has shifted toward outcome-based solutions. This means a student studying engineering can offer technical precision and an understanding of physics that a self-taught hobbyist might lack. This integration of university education with freelance specialisation allows students to command higher rates and build a reputation for high-level expertise.
Similarly, this perspective is shared by Zahan Bristy, the founder of Bizzmakr. Her platform serves as a vital bridge between talent and businesses, focusing on vetting and placing high-quality freelancers into long-term roles. Bizzmakr identifies that while Bangladesh has a large number of freelancers, quality talent remains limited across many fields. “The market is crowded on quantity, not skill,” Zahan observes. “Most Bangladeshi freelancers are still competing in oversaturated, lower-skill categories, while very few have developed the technical depth required for high-value sectors like AI and workflow automation.”
Building a portfolio without professional history
One of the most significant barriers for students is the lack of a formal work history. International recruiters often prioritise experience, which can be difficult for beginners to obtain. To overcome this, Towsif Hasan, a final-year computer science student at BRAC University, suggests a strategy of aggressive free work to build initial credibility. Towsif, who is currently the social media marketing executive at Fyruz Education Services and lead creative director at Niche Studios, emphasises that students should find local brands, small shops, or startups and offer to design their logos, banners, and leaflets for free. “This way you build up a portfolio, learn the work, and most importantly, build connections,” Towsif advises.
He credits his early days of working for small brands as the asset that eventually landed him a part-time role and later a leadership position in a creative agency.
Direct outreach through professional networks like LinkedIn has proven to be a successful alternative to traditional bidding platforms. Rumaisa Quayum, a student at a leading private university in Dhaka, secured paid remote roles as a marketing intern for an Australian consultancy and an executive assistant for a global nonprofit without ever using Fiverr or Upwork. “LinkedIn is a goldmine for finding new opportunities,” Rumaisa asserts. “When applying for my marketing position, the description strictly mentioned two important qualities they were seeking, which I had no way to achieve during that period. I applied anyway and got the position based on my skillset and knowledge.”
She emphasises that her success was based on her ability to study market trends through independent learning on YouTube and e-learning platforms, which she had started while being in high school.
This proves that the traditional barriers to entry are becoming more porous for those who can demonstrate their value through high-quality content and active networking. Instead of waiting for a platform's algorithm to favour them, students can now use digital networking to speak directly with decision-makers in firms. This proactive approach requires a lot of research into a company’s history and current needs, turning the job search itself into a skill that builds professional resilience.
Navigating the AI takeover
The rise of AI has created a sense of anxiety within the creative and technical communities. However, successful student freelancers are reframing AI as a partner rather than a competitor.
Ayon Das, a graphic designer at an NGO with over a decade of experience in freelancing, believes that fearing AI is less productive than learning to use it as a support tool. “Newcomers should not rely solely on software skills but should develop creative thinking, branding, and problem-solving abilities,” Ayon advocates. He follows a strict learning method of observing good work, testing new tools, and correcting his own mistakes to stay relevant.
The integration of AI has given birth to entirely new fields that did not exist four to five years ago. Fields such as prompt engineering, machine learning, AI-driven data cleaning, and software development are now becoming lucrative niches for students with a technical background.
For instance, AI workflow automation is a rapidly growing sector where businesses look for individuals who can integrate tools like ChatGPT or Midjourney into their existing office pipelines to increase efficiency. Students are no longer just designing a single image but are building automated systems that can generate, categorise, and schedule hundreds of pieces of content.
AI has also expanded the scope of data analytics and research. Many international firms now require freelancers who can manage large datasets using AI-powered visualisation tools to provide real-time business insights. This shift means that students who spend their university years learning the logic behind these tools, rather than just the basic operation, will find themselves in high demand. The ability to audit AI-generated content for accuracy and ethical standards is another emerging role, as companies become cautious about the legal implications of automated outputs. This new layer of complexity ensures that while AI may take over simple tasks, it creates a massive demand for high-level human supervision.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. “Treat chatbots as personal assistants by giving clear instructions and having long conversations before asking for an output. This way you can constantly learn new ideas and stay relevant,” Towsif explains. Zahan adds that the real gap in the market is for technical freelancers who can actually build with AI to automate business processes and solve concrete problems for clients. Students who focus on building AI-powered tools or agents are positioned to charge more and face far less competition than those staying in traditional categories.
The professionalism gap and soft skills
Technical expertise alone is no longer enough to sustain an international career. Zahan points out that a major hurdle for Bangladeshi freelancers is the professionalism gap. “Many students underestimate the importance of soft skills like communication, negotiation, and English proficiency. English is an essential communication skill for working with international clients,” Zahan notes. She also warns against the tendency to negotiate for money too early in the conversation without first proving genuine interest in the client’s project.
Developing a professional persona online involves more than just a well-written bio. It requires an understanding of cross-cultural communication and the ability to manage expectations regarding deadlines and deliverables. For a Bangladeshi student, this might mean adapting to the communication styles of clients in the United States or Western Europe, which often favour directness and transparency. Many beginners fail because they over-promise on their capabilities to secure a project, only to later realise that they cannot meet the requirements.
Building the “Made in Bangladesh” brand requires a collective commitment to honesty and reliability, ensuring that local talent is viewed as a dependable asset in the global supply chain.
Ayon adds that beginners must be vigilant about red flags when vetting potential clients. “One of the most common scams involves clients asking for work at an unusually low price with the promise of more work later," Ayon stresses that three things must be clear before starting any project: exactly what the work is, what the pay is, and when the payment will be received.
The logistics of payment and the PayPal debate
For students in Bangladesh, the process of extracting earnings remains a complex hurdle. While the government has introduced a four percent cash incentive to encourage freelancers to bring foreign currency into the country through legal channels, the absence of a fully functional PayPal system continues to be a point of frustration. Recent reports from The Daily Star indicate that Bangladeshi banks can now tie up with payment platforms like PayPal through service agreements, but scepticism remains in the community.
“While easier money transfer systems are positive, students must remain cautious about transaction costs, currency exchange rates, and hidden taxes. It is not just about the money getting here; you must see how much is left in your hand after all the deductions,” Ayon stresses. Currently, the most reliable extraction pipeline for students involves a linked system of global wallets and local banks.
Towsif outlines the standard steps: “After a client pays, funds sit in a mandatory waiting period on the platform; they are then withdrawn to a global wallet like Payoneer and finally transferred to a local bank account or bKash. This process can take anywhere from 3 to 10 days depending on the platform and the bank’s internal processing of inward remittances.”
While the launch of the first state-run Freelancer ID Management Software this year marks a significant step toward institutionalising the sector, achieving comprehensive data remains a challenge. Despite the software's ability to verify income from direct remote contracts, many students still hesitate to register. This reluctance often stems from a lack of awareness as well as concerns regarding the Taxpayer's Identification Number (TIN) requirements associated with formal recognition. Consequently, until registration becomes a standard practice for student earners, a data gap will persist, making it difficult for policymakers to design support systems tailored to their unique needs.
Early freelancing careers provide a practical education that traditional classrooms often overlook. It teaches students about global economics, client psychology, and the discipline of self-management. For those entering the market today, the advice is consistent: prioritise deep work over surface-level tasks, view AI as a partner for upskilling, and maintain a rigorous standard of professionalism. The digital marketplace has emerged as a competitive professional arena where the portfolio, rather than the degree, is the ultimate currency of success.
References:
- International Trade Administration. (March 19, 2026). Bangladesh - digital economy.
- Prothom Alo English Desk. (January 6, 2023). Freelancers see changing times.
- The Daily Star (January 30, 2022). Freelancers to get 4pc incentive on software export.
- Oxford Internet Institute (2017). Where are online workers located? The international division of digital gig work
- The Daily Star (January 11, 2026). Bangladesh sees first state-run freelancer ID management software.
- The Daily Star (September 11, 2025). Bangladesh had 9 lakh unemployed graduates in 2024.
Tagabun Taharim Titun is a journalist and feature writer at the Daily Star.
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