BD must focus on tech, edu, skill dev to harness youth dividend

Speakers at a programme on Saturday emphasised that Bangladesh should prioritise technology-based entrepreneurship, time-relevant education, and skill development for youths to fully benefit from the country's demographic dividend.
They also highlighted the need to strengthen industry-academia linkages, promote technical education, and foster a positive mindset towards skills development.
The observations were made at an open forum titled "Democratic Reconstruction on Youth Employment', hosted by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) at CIRDAP conference room in Dhaka.
CGS President Zillur Rahman moderated the discussion, which focused on youth, skill development, employment, and inclusive governance reforms for Bangladesh's future.
BNP Standing Committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan said Bangladesh's overall situation is multidimensional and complex. Drawing on his experience, he noted that while unemployment is a pressing issue, the real scenario often differs from textbook definitions.
Citing World Bank and IMF data, Dr Khan stressed the importance of accurate and reliable statistics. Using the term 'disguised unemployment', he explained that many youths earn from multiple sources, meeting basic needs and reducing the urgency to seek formal employment.
He warned that under the changing political and governance environment, this trend poses a significant challenge for the future.
Zillur Rahman added that one-third of Bangladesh's population is young, yet many educated youths remain unemployed due to insufficient job creation.
He further noted that the very youth who once led movements for change now show apathy towards democratic processes like elections.
President of the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) Anwar-ul Alam Chowdhury said Bangladesh's economy requires major restructuring, as it remains stuck in limited sectors. "Bangladesh should explore opportunities in sectors like light engineering to reduce dependency on RMG," he said, noting that developed countries shifted from apparel to higher-value industries during their development journeys.
He pointed out that the global light engineering market is estimated at around $7.0 trillion, compared with $1.3 trillion for the RMG sector. Other potential sectors include halal goods and information technology (IT), which could generate substantial jobs and economic growth.
He suggested decentralising ministries, promoting zone-wise economic development, linking industry with academia, and enhancing skills and mindset among the youth. "We need to become a manufacturing hub to create large-scale employment," he added.
Jahangirnagar University Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan stressed the importance of technology-based businesses and start-ups supported by venture capital and angel investors. He also highlighted instilling ethics and good governance in youths through education.
Economist and Dhaka University Pro-VC Dr Sayema Haque Bidisha said the country has a large number of unemployed educated youths. "We talk about the demographic dividend, but preparing youths through education and skills is essential to reap its benefits," she said.
She suggested focusing on small and medium enterprises, improving education quality, promoting technology-driven entrepreneurship, and investing in skill development to secure Bangladesh's future economy.
Other speakers included CGS Executive Director Parvez Karim Abbasi, DU sociology professor Dr Samina Lutfa, women entrepreneur and BNP Media Cell member Mahmuda Habiba, and Central Joint Convener of National Citizen Party (NCP) Sarwar Tushar.

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