Digital skills open new job horizons
The government initiates to expand digital employment opportunities has been launched across Bangladesh, aiming to equip thousands of young people with freelancing skills over the next three years.
The three-month training programme was inaugurated on Wednesday at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, with activities rolled out simultaneously in all 64 districts through a virtual platform.
State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque joined the function as chief guest and formally declared the programme open, while Secretary Md Mahbub-ul-Alam presided over the session. Around 5,000 trainees, district officials and representatives of E-learning and Earning Ltd participated online.
Officials said the initiative aligns with the government’s broader employment strategy, focusing on skill development in emerging digital sectors. The programme seeks to prepare educated but unemployed youth for both local and global freelancing markets.
According to project data, a total of 36,000 individuals will be trained between 2024 and 2027 under the scheme, which carries a budget of over Tk 373 crore. The current sixth batch includes 4,800 trainees, selected from more than 97,000 applicants through a competitive process.
So far, 14,400 participants have completed training, with 60 percent reportedly engaged in freelancing work. Their combined earnings have reached over $1.8 million, reflecting growing opportunities in the digital economy.
The course offers 600 hours of training, covering areas such as digital marketing, graphic design, video editing and basic English.
Officials said regular monitoring and mentoring support will ensure participants can translate skills into sustainable income.
