Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury has said a skilled workforce and its effective utilisation are essential to Bangladesh’s overall development and prosperity.
He made the remarks on Sunday while addressing a prize-giving ceremony for an essay competition involving college and university students at the Labour Building in Bijoynagar, Dhaka.
The competition was organised to mark May Day and National Occupational Health and Safety Day 2026. The minister presented certificates and crests to the winners at the end of the programme.
“Our future generation is highly talented and full of potential. With proper guidance, they can take the country a long way forward,” he said.
The minister said he was highly optimistic about the future after seeing the young winners at the event.
Describing the incumbent administration as labour-friendly, Choudhury said no nation could progress without skilled workers.
Citing China as an example, he said the country had made significant progress on the global stage by effectively utilising its skilled workforce.
Highlighting the importance of workplace safety for workers worldwide, the minister expressed frustration that factories in Bangladesh had yet to give the issue the desired priority, although developed countries placed workers’ safety above everything else.
He instructed labour inspectors not to treat factory inspections as a mere formality but to speak directly with workers, identify their problems and take the necessary steps accordingly.
“This workforce is a valuable national asset, and the country’s overall development is possible through its effective utilisation,” he said.
The minister also urged young people to devote their time to acquiring knowledge and engaging in creative activities instead of wasting it unnecessarily on social media.
Labour and Employment Secretary Abdur Rahman Tarafdar attended the event as special guest, while the ministry’s Additional Secretary Abdur Rahim Khan presided over it.
