More than 52,000 young job seekers sat for a nationwide written test on Saturday for 4,800 places in the eighth batch of a government freelancing training programme, highlighting growing interest in digital skills as an alternative income pathway.
The selection test was held simultaneously across all 64 districts under the Department of Youth Development’s project titled “Employment Creation through Freelancing Training for Educated Job-Seeking Youth in 64 Districts”.
A total of 81,400 applications were submitted for the programme, but 52,200 candidates qualified after verification and screening and were allowed to participate in the written examination, according to a press release.
The training initiative is being implemented by the Department of Youth Development under the Ministry of Youth and Sports, with IT company e-Learning & Earning Ltd responsible for conducting the training.
The examination began at 9:00am. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and Md Motahar Hossain, Director General of the Department of Youth Development, visited an examination centre in Kallyanpur, Dhaka, to observe the process.
Around 5,500 candidates took part in the test at the headquarters of e-Learning & Earning Ltd in Kallyanpur, while officials monitored examinations held across the country.
Candidates who qualify in the written test will appear for an oral examination on 20 September. Following the final selection, 4,800 trainees will join the eighth batch, with 75 participants selected from each district.
The programme has so far trained 19,200 people, according to the Department of Youth Development. Around 64 per cent, or 12,354 trainees, have reportedly earned income through national and international freelancing marketplaces.
Their combined earnings are estimated at $3.439 million, equivalent to around Tk42.3 crore.
The latest recruitment drive reflects rising demand among educated young people for technology-based work opportunities amid limited traditional employment options.
