The government has launched a large-scale skills development programme to train 60,000 drivers for overseas employment, aiming to expand the export of skilled labour and strengthen remittance inflows.
Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed disclosed the initiative while responding to reporters after chairing separate meetings of the Advisers Council Committee on Economic Affairs and the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase at the Cabinet Division Conference Room in the Bangladesh Secretariat on Tuesday.
Under the programme, supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), 40,000 new drivers will receive fresh training, while 20,000 existing drivers will undergo advanced skills upgrading.
Dr Salehuddin said the initiative is designed to meet rising international demand for heavy vehicle and equipment operators, including drivers of trucks, cranes, excavators and rail equipment. Many Bangladeshi drivers currently operate light vehicles, which have limited demand in overseas labour markets, he noted.
“The upgraded training will enable them to qualify for higher-paying jobs abroad,” he said.
Training will be implemented through relevant government agencies, including the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), following established selection, certification and licensing procedures.
Authorities said priority will be given to training quality, proper licensing and job placement to ensure international standards are met.
The finance adviser said the programme is part of a long-term employment strategy and has no connection with the election cycle. Beyond overseas employment, the initiative is also expected to improve professional driving standards and road safety within the country.
He said the programme will help ease unemployment pressures, create higher-income opportunities for workers and enhance Bangladesh’s competitiveness in the global labour market, particularly in regions with strong demand for skilled drivers and heavy equipment operators.
Bd-pratidin English/TR
