United News of Bangladesh

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj on Tuesday said Bangladesh's strategic geographic location at the junction of South Asia and ASEAN offers Japanese investors a unique opportunity, noting that investment in Bangladesh could give Japan access to a regional market of more than 3 billion consumers. “Bangladesh is not just a promising investment destination but a strategic economic bridge between South Asia and ASEAN,” Bobby said while addressing the Bangladesh Investment Promotion Seminar in Osaka, jointly organised by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the Bangladesh Embassy in Japan, and the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The state minister said progress on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Bangladesh and Japan, along with the establishment of a special economic zone for Japanese investors, would elevate bilateral economic ties to a new height. He said these initiatives would play a groundbreaking role in expanding bilateral trade and investment and would ensure a more favourable environment for Japanese investors. Referring to Japan's Meiji Restoration, Bobby described it as an exemplary case of national transformation through education, technology, industrialisation and visionary leadership, adding that Bangladesh wants to build its future economy by drawing on Japan's development experience through knowledge, technology, innovation, productivity and skilled human resource development. He said Bangladesh's economy currently stands at more than $500 billion, having maintained growth above 6 percent for a long period and staying above 4.5 percent despite global economic challenges. “The government aims to elevate Bangladesh to a $1 trillion economy by 2034.” The state minister said Bangladesh's biggest competitive strength lies in its workforce of more than 70 million young people. He noted that with per capita income crossing $3,000, the domestic market is rapidly expanding and purchasing power is rising, creating new opportunities for foreign investors. Bobby said bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Japan currently stands at around $3.5 billion, with both countries aiming to raise it to $10 billion in the coming years. He identified machinery and light engineering, industrial components, automobile and electric vehicle (EV) parts, electronics, pharmaceuticals, API and medical equipment, diversified jute products, agro-processing, food security, cold-chain logistics, renewable energy, port and logistics infrastructure, industrial park development, robotics, education technology and skilled human resource development as promising sectors for Japanese investment. He also pointed to the potential for partnership with organisations such as Artec in education technology and skills development. Bobby said there is immense potential for cooperation between Bangladesh and Japan in education, skills development, healthcare and medical tourism. “Bangladesh's young, educated and skilled workforce can play a significant role in meeting Japan's growing labour shortage and the needs of its ageing population, creating scope for long-term partnership in skills development, technical training and employment between the two countries.” The state minister thanked Japan, including JICA, for working for decades as one of Bangladesh's most trusted development partners in infrastructure, education, human resource development and economic progress through various bilateral initiatives. Bangladesh and Japan are now entering a new era based on investment, trade, technology, innovation and shared prosperity, Bobby said, calling on Japanese businesses and investors to become long-term partners in Bangladesh's growth journey. Investing in Bangladesh, he said, means not just entering one country's market but a strategic opportunity to access a vast regional market of more than 3 billion consumers.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj on Sunday said the government has introduced a new decentralised system for teacher transfers to make the process transparent, accountable and free from corruption. The teacher transfer process had long been known as a major area of syndicate control and corruption, which stood as a significant obstacle to improving the quality of education, he said while addressing the Validation Workshop on the Bangladesh Education Sector Analysis (ESA) 2026, organised by GPE and UNICEF at a hotel in the capital. Bobby Hajjaj said that under the directive of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and the initiative of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, the teacher transfer process has been decentralised and brought to the local level. Under the new policy, separate committees are being formed at the upazila, district, divisional and city corporation levels to review transfer applications at regular intervals, he said. At the upazila level, a four-member committee headed by the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) will scrutinise applications, while the Upazila Primary Education Officer will issue transfer orders based on the committee’s recommendations, he added. Besides, similar five- or six-member committees will operate at the district, divisional and city corporation levels to examine transfer applications and issue transfer orders, he said. Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon attended the programme as the chief guest. Officials from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, relevant departments and UNICEF were also present at the event.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj on Sunday said Bangladesh is facing a significant shortage of skilled human resources despite having millions of job opportunities. “Everyone says there is a shortage of jobs in Bangladesh, but the reality is quite the opposite. There are millions of jobs available: the problem is finding skilled people to grab them,” he said while speaking at a skills development summit. Global Entrepreneurship Network Bangladesh and Daffodil International University organised the programme at Daffodil Plaza in Dhanmondi. The state minister noted that nationals from neighbouring countries, particularly India, are coming to Bangladesh and securing employment, while Bangladeshis remain jobless in their own country due to a lack of marketable skills. Highlighting the gap between academic credentials and practical competence, he said, “When candidates appear before interview boards, they recite a list of degrees. But when it comes to skills, they fall short and that is why they fail to secure the jobs they desire.” Bobby Hajjaj stressed that a fundamental shift in mindset is the first step towards addressing the crisis. “The core problem is our mindset. Having taught for 17 years, I have seen a serious lack of skills-oriented thinking among students. We want to bring about that change from the primary level and build a generation that is truly ready for the job market.” He urged student participants to develop innovative, technology-driven projects capable of contributing to national development, and announced that students who successfully create practical and effective software solutions will be recognised and rewarded. The State Minister also assured that government support will be extended to help commercialise such innovative projects.