Dhaka: Employment exchange will be introduced at the district level to directly connect jobseekers with employers, with priority given to marginalized and disadvantaged communities, Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Spokesperson Mahdi Amin said on Wednesday. "We are going to launch employment exchange. Several dialogues and consultations have already been held among different government agencies on the initiative," he said.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Mahdi Amin, who also serves as the Prime Minister's adviser, made these remarks at the second session of a national conference titled 'Implementing a Five-Year Strategic Framework for Achieving the SDGs: Policies, Partnerships and Priorities' held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital. He elaborated that both offline and online platforms would be employed to facilitate new employment opportunities by connecting local employers and jobseekers.
The initiative will also focus on technical skills development, capacity building, and an effective referral system. The private sector will play a significant role in enhancing institutional skills and qualifications under this initiative. Mahdi Amin emphasized the government's priority to ensure no citizen is excluded from the country's economic growth. "Fully integrating disadvantaged people into the mainstream economy and social protection system is one of the government's key objectives," he stated.
The adviser affirmed the government's commitment to inclusive development and addressing citizens' concerns through sustainable measures. Highlighting aspects of the government's first budget, he noted that taxes and VAT on over seven essential commodities, such as rice, pulses, and edible oil, had been reduced to empower grassroots people economically.
Mahdi Amin also mentioned that the government has maintained stable fuel prices despite international market fluctuations. He addressed the recent gas supply disruption due to a technical failure at a Floating Storage Regasification Unit, stating that measures are underway to resolve the issue.
The PMO spokesperson acknowledged the longstanding challenges in the energy sector, noting that they could not be completely resolved within a short timeframe. However, efforts are being made to attract foreign investment and increase domestic resource extraction. He revealed that the government plans to create 100,000 new jobs in the health sector, with women receiving priority for 80,000 of these positions.
Mahdi Amin stressed that the government's development commitments are not limited to election cycles but are deeply rooted in the political philosophy of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). He highlighted ongoing efforts to rebuild and reform state institutions affected by what he described as 16 years of authoritarian rule, reaffirming the government's dedication to ensuring equal rights, freedom, and participation in development for all citizens.
The event was attended by Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare Minister Prof Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, Centre of Policy Dialogue Distinguished Fellow Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, and BNP Standing Committee member Selima Rahman.