Jashore Correspondent //

Law Minister Md. Anisul Huq stated that the youth represent the country’s greatest strength. He emphasized the need to bridge the “skills mismatch” between conventional education and the demands of the actual workplace to cultivate a skilled, market-oriented workforce.

He made these remarks on Saturday (September 12) afternoon while addressing a job fair and a seminar on microcredit—organized by the Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA)—as the chief guest at the Jashore PTI Auditorium.

Md. Anisul Huq noted that the job fair would serve as an effective bridge between microcredit institutions and job seekers. He added that young job seekers must not only look for employment but also hone their skills to meet the requirements of the job market.

He mentioned that the current government has undertaken various initiatives—such as the Farmer Card, Family Card, and allowances for Imams and Muezzins—to boost economic activities among marginalized populations. He observed that if the 2,500 Taka provided through the Family Card is utilized effectively, a family could achieve self-reliance within two to three years, citing a real-life example from China to illustrate this point.

The Law Minister stated that the government is taking measures to ensure no individual is deprived of legal assistance. Steps are being taken to sign Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) that are working to provide legal aid. Furthermore, the government has initiated amendments to the Transfer of Property Act for the public welfare, following an analysis of laws from various countries. Reminding the audience that MFIs operating under the MRA are not owned by individuals but are managed by boards of directors, he urged these institutions to operate with greater transparency.

Professor Dr. Mohammad Helal Uddin, Executive Vice-Chairman of the Microcredit Regulatory Authority, presided over the seminar. Other attendees included Jashore District Council Administrator Delwar Hossain Khan Khokon, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ashek Hasan, and Superintendent of Police Syed Rafiqul Islam.

Earlier that morning, Dr. Mohammad Helal Uddin inaugurated the job fair. Present at the event were Nure Alam Mehedi, Executive Director of the Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA); Abdul Mannan, Director; and Khan Masum Billah, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and ICT), among others.

On-site observations revealed an overwhelming turnout at the job fair in Jashore, with over ten thousand job seekers gathering at the venue. Authorities struggled to manage the massive crowd of aspirants. From the morning, the fairgrounds bustled with men and women of various ages, with thousands of job seekers eventually congregating there.

Organizers stated that 36 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) involved in microcredit distribution participated in the fair. Approximately 33,000 CVs (applications) were collected from 10,000 job seekers for positions within these organizations. Through on-the-spot CV screening and interviews, 1,115 individuals were hired for various roles, including loan officers, accountants, and branch managers. An additional 3,000 job seekers will be recruited from the remaining collected CVs over the next two to three months.

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