Nitu Rahman had been sitting idle after completing her master’s in social work from Eden College. Like many other graduates, she found herself stuck in a long wait for a stable job. That changed when she discovered a government initiative offering free, occupation-focused technical training.
Today, Nitu is not only self-reliant but also works as a trainer in food and beverage production at a private institution in Dhaka. Her earnings allow her to live comfortably, and she is now planning to formalise her passion for cooking into a full-fledged food business.
“After completing my master’s, I wasn’t doing anything,” Nitu told TIMES of Bangladesh. “Then I learned about the government’s free vocational training programmes. I joined an enterprise-based training in food and beverage production and completed level 4. Now, I work as a trainer at the same organisation.”
Nitu’s story reflects a broader shift among young people in Bangladesh – moving away from years of waiting for government jobs and instead turning toward skill-based employment and entrepreneurship.
In Khulna’s Gollamari area, Sumaiya Byapari has followed a similar path. Forced to discontinue her education after higher secondary school due to personal circumstances, she initially remained unemployed. Later, she enrolled in a free beautification training programme. After completing level 3, she opened her own beauty parlour, gaining financial stability and a renewed sense of independence.
These individual journeys point to a wider transformation. Under the government’s Accelerating and Strengthening Skills for Economic Transformation (ASSET) project, around 51,000 trainees have become self-reliant over the past one and a half years, while another 93,891 are currently in training. The programme aims to reach 223,000 people through three-month courses.
A key feature of the initiative is its enterprise-based model, where training takes place directly within industrial workplaces. Designed around industry demand, it ensures that trainees acquire practical, job-ready skills often leading to immediate employment. Officials say at least 80% of participants secure job opportunities upon completion.
The programme has particularly expanded access for unemployed youth, women, and marginalised communities, offering a pathway to income through skills rather than formal degrees alone.
Syed Azharul Haque, a training and assessment expert in technical education, said the initiative is addressing a long-standing gap. “For those who lack formal education or prior training, this programme is creating real employment opportunities,” he said.
He added, “A country’s training system should be inclusive; no one willing to learn should be left behind. Even if 30 to 40 percent of trainees transform their lives, that is a significant outcome.”
Alongside enterprise-based training, the ASSET project also offers short-term courses through public and private technical institutions to help young people become industry-ready. So far, around 134,000 trainees have completed courses in 43 occupations, with a target of reaching over 200,000 through 174 institutions.
According to Deputy Project Director Robindronath Mahato, these programmes allow students to gain technical certifications alongside their academic qualifications. “This dual certification gives them a clear advantage in the job market,” he said.
Farhan Hossain, a diploma engineering student, recently completed a three-month graphic design course at the Raozan Technical Training Center in Chattogram. For him, the experience has been transformative.
“My main focus is still on my studies,” he said. “But learning graphic design has motivated me to start freelancing. I’ve already begun taking on small projects. Hands-on training has really boosted my confidence.”
In a country where formal job opportunities remain limited, such training is emerging as a practical alternative; equipping young people not just to find work, but to create it.
