He made these remarks as the chief guest at a job fair titled 'From Skill to Opportunity' held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre on Thursday. The fair was organised by the Eco-Social Development Organisation (ESDO) with support from private partners Chongshan for Children and Educo.
The Information Minister said that while skill development for youth is extremely important, it must be remembered that creating skilled manpower for existing jobs alone is not enough—creating new jobs and expanding the job market are equally important.
He said, "Whether it is called 'job creation,' 'job extension,' or 'job market expansion,' its foundation lies in the economy, industrial policy, and production policy. And political leadership and policy-making are directly linked to these policies. Therefore, to solve the problem of employment, we cannot just focus on skill development; we also need to understand where the 'switch' of the job market is."
The Information Minister emphasised developing a mindset among young people to connect their skills and capabilities with the needs of society and the state.
In this context, he cited the example of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman's initiative during his tenure to bring knowledge and technology from South Korea and integrate Bangladesh's workforce with modern garment industry skills. He said that through entrepreneur training, bank loans, connections with foreign knowledge and technology, and necessary policy support, the foundation of a new industrial sector was built.
The Minister said that the benefits of such policy support from a statesman are not limited to one individual or institution; it impacts the entire economy.
Referring to Bangladesh's two main sources of foreign currency—export earnings and remittances—he said that in a country with a huge population within a limited geography, there is no alternative to creating new industries and production sectors for employment and economic opportunities.
The Minister advised job-seeking young people to keep themselves informed about the country's economy, society, politics, and national interests alongside building their careers.
He said, "If this basic picture is not in a young person's mind, they may get a job, but their skills and potential may not be aligned with the national interest."
He called upon the National Skills Development Authority and the organising bodies to provide young people with an understanding of ethics, philosophy, and the existing political and social realities while designing skill development and employment-oriented curricula.
The Information Minister emphasised not only creating skilled workers but also developing responsible and aware citizens, and aligning skill development with national interests.
He said that to harness the potential of the country's youth, on one hand, skill development and employment opportunities must be increased; on the other hand, the job market must be expanded by creating new areas of economy, industry, and production.
The Information Minister called upon the state, entrepreneurs, industrial establishments, banks, and policymakers to take coordinated initiatives to create new employment opportunities for young people.
The event, chaired by Educo Bangladesh Country Director Abdul Hamid, was also addressed by National Skills Development Authority Executive Chairman Dr. Naznin Kausar Chowdhury and ESDO Executive Director Dr. Md. Shahid Uz Zaman.
