Info minister urges youth to set clear goals, chart roadmap

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon on Thursday said young people should set clear and specific goals and chart a clear roadmap to achieve them.

He made the remarks while addressing the “Job Expo and Advocacy Event 2026: From Skills to Opportunities” as the chief guest at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre (BCFCC) in the capital’s Agargaon.

The Education and Development Foundation–Educo, in partnership with the Eco-Social Development Organization (ESDO), organised the event under the LIFT (Leveraging Youth Employment in Bangladesh) Project, with funding support from ChorogUsan for Children.

Around 31 reputed industries and companies participated in the Job Expo, creating opportunities for young people to meet prospective employers, submit CVs, explore career options and participate in recruitment processes.

In his speech, Swapon said achievements in life should not be measured solely by material rewards. Young people who can create such a canvas of possibilities are the leaders of the future, he said.

He said if young people can define their goals and chart a clear roadmap, the state, the country and society as a whole will benefit.

The minister also encouraged young people to work towards building a political, social and economic ecosystem alongside seeking employment.

He stressed the importance of ensuring access to capital for genuine entrepreneurs and keeping pace with artificial intelligence, market knowledge, product trends and changes in the market.

Abdul Hamid, country director at Educo Bangladesh, highlighted the role of the LIFT Project in bridging the gap between skills development and employment.

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He thanked 34 employers for supporting the initiative to provide technical and vocational education and training to 300 disadvantaged young people and create employment opportunities for them. He urged the participants to have confidence in their skills and move forward with self-belief.

Dr Naznin Kausar Chowdhury, executive chairman (secretary) of the National Skills Development Authority (NSDA), attended the event as an honoured guest, while Afzal Kabir Khan, manager of Child Labour Elimination at Educo, delivered the welcome speech.

Md Ruhul Amin, chairman of the Bangladesh Technical Education Board; Dr Md Shahid Uz Zaman, executive director of ESDO; Benzir Ahmed, chairman of the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC); Mohammed Walid Hossain, additional secretary and executive program director (EPD) of SICIP; and Devabrata Chakraborty, joint secretary and director (admin) of the Bureau of Non-Formal Education (BNFE), were also present at the event.