People want jobs plan, not promises, experts say

Experts urge parties to present clear, practical employment strategies ahead of polls

Employment has emerged as the top concern for Bangladeshis, with citizens expecting political parties to offer clear, realistic and actionable plans rather than vague promises before the general election.

This message came from a roundtable jointly organised by Democracy International (DI) and The Business Standard (TBS) in Dhaka on Monday, according to a DI press statement.

DI Bangladesh Chief of Party Catherine Cecil said jobs have long been a priority, especially for young people, adding that many young voters remain unconvinced that parties are adequately addressing their needs.

Experts highlighted challenges and potential solutions.

BDJobs founder Fahim Mashroor noted that while overall unemployment in neighbouring countries is higher, educated unemployment in Bangladesh rose sharply — from 4.9 percent in 2010 to 12 percent in 2022 — even as uneducated unemployment declined.

Akij-Bashir Group HR Director Dilruba S Khan pointed to a mismatch between skills programmes and industrial demand, urging skill-based education, productivity improvements and curriculum reforms from school level.

Marina Sultana of Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) said 1.1–1.2 million young Bangladeshis migrate annually, but many return due to lack of jobs and skills, highlighting gaps in training and recruitment.

Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) President Mohammad Hatem warned of factory closures caused by banking and industrial policy issues, calling for urgent reforms to protect jobs.

Political representatives also shared plans.

BNP’s Saiyed Abdullah stressed skill development, IT expansion, low-interest loans for expatriates and language education.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s Hafizur Rahman and National Citizen Party’s Ariful Islam Adeeb prioritised youth employment, merit-based recruitment, and new opportunities in agriculture and IT.

Taslima Akter of Ganosamhati Andolon and Tania Wahab of Karigor urged measures to safeguard workers and entrepreneurs, proposing investment and tourism-based development to create jobs.