Job Fair 2026 was held at Hill View Convention Centre in Bandarban on 16 June, bringing together more than 20 employers from tourism, banking, ICT, retail and hospitality sectors to create employment opportunities for skilled women and adolescent girls, said in a press release.
The event organised under the Shopner Sharothi — Girls Education and Skills Partnership (GESP) project implemented by JAAGO Foundation Trust and UNICEF Bangladesh with funding from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), provided participants with direct access to interviews, CV submission opportunities and on-the-spot career counselling.
Participating organisations included BDJobs, Dutch-Bangla Bank Agent Banking, Shombhob Jobs and Sairu Hill Resort, which set up stalls to engage with job seekers directly at the fair.
District Administrator of Bandarban Md Saniul Ferdous said the growing tourism and service sector in the region has created rising demand for skilled workers, while local supply remains limited, adding that the fair is a step towards bridging this gap.
UNICEF Bangladesh Representative Fahmida Shabnam said trained girls demonstrate strong potential when given employment opportunities, noting that the initiative is creating real pathways into the workforce.
Project Coordinator Zahid Hossain said the programme focuses on converting training into employment by directly linking skilled women with employers in the local market.
Under the initiative, 4,100 adolescent girls and young women have received training in food and beverage service, retail, housekeeping and computer skills, while 1,320 women in remote areas have been reached through mobile training. A further 5,400 students are engaged in digital literacy and leadership training through the Passport to Earning (P2E) platform.
A second job fair under the same project will be held on 18 June at Hotel Sea Palace in Cox’s Bazar, with participation from local and national employers.
