Bangladesh is India’s ‘foremost’ partner in ITEC programme, says Riva Das

Bangladesh is the “foremost and valued partner” under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme or ITEC, Riva Ganguly Das has said.

“A tailor-made course for teachers on IT, web designing, English communication skills and pedagogy was designed on the specific request of the government of Bangladesh,” Indian high commissioner in Dhaka said.

“Five batches of the tailor-made course have so far been conducted at the National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTTR), Chennai in which 200 teachers from schools, colleges, polytechnics, vocational education institutes, universities and madrassas have been trained”.

She was speaking before the ITEC alumni at a reception the High Commission hosted to celebrate the 55th ITEC Day on Thursday at the chancery.

Information Minister Hasan Mahmud was also present.

ITEC, a flagship programme of the Indian government was instituted in 1964 as part of India’s Development Assistance Programme within the framework of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation offering developing countries the benefit of India’s development experience and appropriate technologies.

Every year more than 10,000 training slots are offered to 161 partner countries for training courses in various areas like accounts, audit, management, SME, rural development, parliamentary affairs, among others.

Over 4,000 young Bangladeshi professionals have undergone such specialised short and medium term courses in India under the ITEC programme since 2007.

“These training programmes provide an opportunity to share our best practices with the brightest brains and India equally benefits from the developmental experiences of Bangladesh,” the high commissioner added.

She underscored the importance of such programmes in strengthening the capacity of officials of Bangladesh working in various ministries and departments.

“Such programmes will further enhance the already excellent bilateral cooperation that exists between the two countries.”

Around 300 ITEC alumni from all walks of life, besides invited guests, attended the reception.

A short cultural programme organised by Nrittya Chhanda and Bir Srestha Noor Mohammad Public College, Border Guard Bangladesh was also presented on the occasion.