Prime Minister’ Private Industry and Investment Advisor Salman F Rahman has emphasised the need for creating skilled manpower to take the country forward economically.
Salman F Rahman was addressing a workshop on ‘Formulating National Action for Skill Development’, organised by the National Skills Development Authority when he said: “Foreign workers are taking away four to five billion US dollars’ worth every year through their employment in Bangladesh. This is never desirable for us,” he said, adding that “they can take the money because their efficiency is higher than us in some sectors. We have to increase our efficiency in all of these”.
Salman F Rahman pointed out: “We have long been one of the top producers in the garments industry but the irony is that we still need manpower here from outside. In this case, we haven’t been able to increase the efficiency of our own people.” “Our Prime Minister has set some targets for the country’s economic development. If the targets are fulfilled, we can move to a better position by 2041. But to fulfil these targets, we have to increase our skills.” He reiterated that such progress would not be possible without proper skills development.
Salman F Rahman, also a Member of Parliament, said the Prime Minister has set some issues to enhance efficiency. She has taken the initiative to establish the NSDA. She has also put some sectors, which are more important for the country, under her jurisdiction. “Since this is an important issue, she is looking into the matter herself,” he added. Salman F Rahman cited Japan as an example, saying that some Japanese organisations are working here in Bangladesh, which are taking the people of our country to their country by increasing development in skills.
He said: “In recent times, Japan is said to have taken four lakh workers from nine countries, but Bangladesh was not included there. The Prime Minister then requested Japan to name Bangladesh, in view of which we had an MOU with them. Basically, these four lakh people will go to Japan for construction purposes. But they need to develop their skills in order to serve the purpose of the Japanese,” he added. “The biggest thing is that I will send people to a foreign country by increasing their skills. But if I don’t do it for my own country, it will affect the domestic market,” he noted.
He emphasised the fact that Bangladesh has become digital now, mentioning that many years ago, when the Prime Minister said this, many people had made fun of it. “You may not be aware that 85 per cent of the unions in the country have access to broadband internet through fibre optics. That means there are about 6,000 unions with internet connectivity. The remaining 15 per cent is to be completed within the next year.”
He mentioned that in neighbouring India, people have to pay INR 1,200 for 1 Mbps-speed internet, which Bangladesh has given for only Tk. 500. He talked about bringing the freelancers, who are currently working as programmers for other countries, under a registration list with the information and communication technology (ICT) ministry. He said there are about 10 lakh freelancers in the country and if they can be put on a list, the country’s economy will be further enhanced through them.
Salman F Rahman was addressing a workshop on ‘Formulating National Action for Skill Development’, organised by the National Skills Development Authority when he said: “Foreign workers are taking away four to five billion US dollars’ worth every year through their employment in Bangladesh. This is never desirable for us,” he said, adding that “they can take the money because their efficiency is higher than us in some sectors. We have to increase our efficiency in all of these”.
Salman F Rahman pointed out: “We have long been one of the top producers in the garments industry but the irony is that we still need manpower here from outside. In this case, we haven’t been able to increase the efficiency of our own people.” “Our Prime Minister has set some targets for the country’s economic development. If the targets are fulfilled, we can move to a better position by 2041. But to fulfil these targets, we have to increase our skills.” He reiterated that such progress would not be possible without proper skills development.
Salman F Rahman, also a Member of Parliament, said the Prime Minister has set some issues to enhance efficiency. She has taken the initiative to establish the NSDA. She has also put some sectors, which are more important for the country, under her jurisdiction. “Since this is an important issue, she is looking into the matter herself,” he added. Salman F Rahman cited Japan as an example, saying that some Japanese organisations are working here in Bangladesh, which are taking the people of our country to their country by increasing development in skills.
He said: “In recent times, Japan is said to have taken four lakh workers from nine countries, but Bangladesh was not included there. The Prime Minister then requested Japan to name Bangladesh, in view of which we had an MOU with them. Basically, these four lakh people will go to Japan for construction purposes. But they need to develop their skills in order to serve the purpose of the Japanese,” he added. “The biggest thing is that I will send people to a foreign country by increasing their skills. But if I don’t do it for my own country, it will affect the domestic market,” he noted.
He emphasised the fact that Bangladesh has become digital now, mentioning that many years ago, when the Prime Minister said this, many people had made fun of it. “You may not be aware that 85 per cent of the unions in the country have access to broadband internet through fibre optics. That means there are about 6,000 unions with internet connectivity. The remaining 15 per cent is to be completed within the next year.”
He mentioned that in neighbouring India, people have to pay INR 1,200 for 1 Mbps-speed internet, which Bangladesh has given for only Tk. 500. He talked about bringing the freelancers, who are currently working as programmers for other countries, under a registration list with the information and communication technology (ICT) ministry. He said there are about 10 lakh freelancers in the country and if they can be put on a list, the country’s economy will be further enhanced through them.
