Govt eyes job-rich industrial growth
The government plans to give priority to industries capable of generating large-scale employment with relatively low capital investment as it seeks to expand job opportunities and support broader economic growth.
Industries Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said labour-intensive manufacturing would be a key focus, particularly given Bangladesh’s large population and limited land resources.
Speaking at a certificate distribution and appointment letter handover ceremony for trainees at the Bangladesh Institute of Management (BIM) auditorium on Monday, the minister identified leather, footwear and non-leather or synthetic leather-based industries as sectors with strong potential to create jobs on a large scale.
“This sector will be among those the government prioritises in the coming days,” he said.
The event was organised by the Bangladesh Industrial Technical Assistance Centre (BITAC) under its project titled “Self-Employment Generation and Poverty Alleviation through Technical Training (Phase-2)”.
Muktadir said demand for skilled workers would increase as the manufacturing sector expands, making technical and vocational training increasingly important for the country’s industrial development.
He said BITAC was playing an important role by providing government-funded technical training and helping trainees secure employment after completing their courses.
“The biggest achievement of such a programme is that trainees acquire skills and get jobs directly in industrial establishments,” he said.
The minister said the training project would be expanded and BITAC modernised to meet the changing requirements of industry. Modern technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, would also be incorporated into its training curriculum, he said.
To keep pace with global industrial developments, Bangladesh needs skilled workers capable of using modern technologies across different levels and professions, Muktadir said.
“The government is working to develop training curricula in line with leading training institutions at home and abroad and to create new opportunities for trainees,” he said.
Addressing the trainees, the minister said their three-month training was only the beginning of their professional careers and urged them to continue developing their skills.
“The three-month training is only an important beginning of your career. You have received an orientation to a disciplined life through the training, but the responsibility for learning from now on lies with you. It is also your responsibility to put the knowledge and skills you have acquired to use in professional life,” he said.
“Each of you has risen from challenging circumstances. You have completed three months of training, earned certificates and secured employment. Now it is up to you to build the path forward,” he added.
Muktadir said the government was implementing a broader action plan to develop skilled human resources through BITAC and other initiatives, including the national skills development programme.
Industries Secretary Abdun Naser Khan, who attended the event as a special guest, said completing a training course should not mark the end of professional development.
“Training must be accompanied by continuous learning and a mindset of constantly updating oneself,” he said.
Technology and industrial requirements are changing rapidly, requiring workers to acquire new skills continuously, the secretary said.
He also stressed that technical skills should not be viewed as less valuable than academic qualifications, noting that skilled technical workers play an important role in modern industries and economies.
“So, you must be confident about your skills and knowledge,” he told the trainees.
The minister later distributed certificates and appointment letters among the trainees.
Under the project, 642 of the 722 trainees from various categories received appointment letters from reputed industrial establishments across the country, providing a direct employment outcome from the government-funded training initiative.
