United News of Bangladesh

With barely a third of its sanctioned workforce, the Lalmonirhat Technical Training Centre (TTC) is pressing ahead—quietly but resolutely—to keep its skill-building mission alive. Despite having 81 approved posts, only 39 are currently filled. The challenge deepened when 16 officers and staff were transferred following an institutional merger, leaving the centre to operate with just 23 personnel. Yet, training continues without interruption, thanks to determined staff and revived leadership. A recent UNB visit found the centre bustling once again after years of stagnation. A total of 412 trainees are now enrolled across two shifts, receiving instruction in 13 courses. Established in 2006 beside the Haribhanga air base, around three kilometres from Lalmonirhat town, the TTC was created to produce skilled manpower under the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET). Read more: ADB, Bangladesh sign $150m deal to boost technical training for employment creation Today, it prioritises high-quality technical education tailored to the needs of both domestic industries and overseas labour markets, including the Middle East, Europe and the United States. Under a new government initiative to boost skill development, the centre is adopting updated programmes designed to prepare competitive workers for international employment. Trainees are provided with a supportive learning environment, and the centre assists in arranging employment after course completion, an approach that has significantly increased interest among local youth. The TTC offers courses of two, three and six months, along with a 30-day housekeeping programme for domestic workers heading abroad. There are also specialised training options for SSC graduates to encourage self-reliance. Read more: Ecnec nods setting up 50 technical training centres Driving instructor and trade in-charge Kamruzzaman said the centre has evolved into a meaningful platform for producing skilled human resources. He acknowledged that past leadership was marred by irregularities, which stalled progress and damaged the institution’s reputation. “Under the new leadership of Principal Engineer Md Ainul Haque, the quality of training has improved considerably,” he said. Senior Instructor (Electrical) Shri Jageshwar Barman said the TTC is now focused on producing technically competent workers capable of contributing both at home and overseas. Courses such as mobile phone servicing have been modernised and made more practical, he added. Read more: Crisis of care: Manpower shortage cripples Chuadanga Sadar Hospital Trainees Saiful Islam and Habibur Rahman, who are preparing for overseas employment, praised the sincerity of the instructors and the harassment-free learning environment. Principal Engineer Md Ainul Haque, who recently assumed charge, said the centre had long operated in a fragile state but has now regained stability and is conducting regular training programmes. “With only 23 staff against 81 approved posts, we face limitations. But I am confident that our trainees will acquire the skills necessary for self-employment and overseas work as capable, qualified professionals,” he said.

All passengers will be allowed to bring one new mobile phone in a year without paying any duty as the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has issued new baggage rules . Besides, expatriate Bangladeshis who hold BMET cards issued by the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) and have stayed abroad for at least six months can bring two new mobile phones per year duty-free, the NBR said in a press release. To make the existing baggage system more effective and passenger-friendly, the NBR issued the updated "Unaccompanied Passenger Baggage Rules, 2025" which comes into effect on Wednesday. Beside, passengers can now bring up to 100 grams of gold ornaments or 2,000 grams of silver ornaments in a year—either at once or in multiple trips—without paying any duty. NBR suspends Chattogram Customs chief for 'defying' orders The new rules also allow passengers to bring a gold bar weighing 10 tolas once a year by paying a duty of Tk 5,000 per tola. Following consultations with stakeholders and field-level offices, the NBR later amended several provisions, including an increase in baggage allowances for expatriate Bangladeshis, through an SRO (Statutory Regulatory Order). The updated rules also introduce an online system for submitting baggage declaration forms for all incoming passengers. To prevent misuse of the baggage facility, it has been made mandatory to submit the baggage declaration form before leaving the customs hall or customs area. said the press release.  

Bangladesh received inward remittances worth over USD $1008.67 million (1,000 million = 1 billion) in the first 15 days of September, amid the forex crisis in the country. Bankers said remittance inflow shows an upward trend as the remitters are encouraged by the depreciation of taka and they get more than Tk 108 per dollar. The remittance inflow is expected to cross $2 billion in September. Read: Uniform rate: Tk 108/dollar max for remittance, Tk 99/dollar for export income from tomorrow Bangladesh received remittances of $2.09 billion in July and $2.03 billion in August, which became a blessing amidst forex crisis. Md Serajul Islam, executive director and spokesperson of Bangladesh Bank told UNB that the central bank has simplified various processes to attract more remittance through banking channels. The government is also extending remittance incentives as well as providing policy support. Now the dollar rate is getting higher, he said. Read: Hope amidst forex crisis: Bangladesh received $2.03bn remittance in Aug The sector insiders said that Bangladesh’s inward remittance flow will grow more as manpower export hit a new high in the past fiscal on a post-pandemic rebound of the overseas job market. The data of the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET) showed over 9.88 lakh workers had gone abroad in the fiscal year FY22 while this figure was 2.71 lakh in FY 21. This happens to be the highest number of annual overseas jobs in the last seven years. Read How to safely send remittance to Bangladesh? It is also contributing to growing up the inward remittance flow in Bangladesh.

The  Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET) has undertaken an exceptional endeavour to provide over 200 bicycles to students in the flood-hit areas of the country including Sylhet instead of providing them traditional relief materials.  As part of the programme, BMET Director General (Additional Secretary) Shahidul Alam today (Tuesday) distributed 104 bicycles, helmets and T-shirts among students of six educational institutions and technical training centers including Technical Training Center (TTC), Sylhet, and Goainghat Imran Ahmad Girls' School and College.  The BMET has taken the initiative to provide 220 bicycles, helmets, and T-shirts among the underprivileged students of nine educational institutions and training centers in the flood-affected areas including Sylhet, Sunamganj, Kishoreganj, Kurigram, Netrokona and Gaibandha districts with money collected from one day's salary of BMET officials and employees. Among the students, 120 are male and 100 are female.  Read: Bicycle Price in Bangladesh with Buyers' Guide During the distribution of bicycles at Sylhet TTC, Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Mojibur Rahman, BMET Deputy Director Rafiqul Islam, Assistant Director Kamrul Hossain, Sylhet Women TTC Principal, Goainghat Government College Fazlul Haque and other senior officials were present.  Sheikh Mohammad Nahid Niaz, Principal of Sylhet Technical Training Center presided over the function, says a press release on Tuesday evening.  Speaking at the function, BMET Director General Shahidul Alam said the initiative of free bicycle distribution has been taken as an alternative to relief to encourage skills and developmental training as a tool for sustainable development.  He said the bicycle will be a symbol of speed, good health, and success. The participation and contribution of those who can afford it can easily bring the society towards development.  BMET sources said, one day's salary of BMET officials amounting to Tk 2000,000 (twenty lakh)  was collected last June for distribution of relief among flood-affected people. As the flood situation, in the meantime, improved, the authorities decided to distribute bicycles among the underprivileged students as an alternative to speed up their lives.  The bicycles were provided under the banner of JanoShakti Krira O Sangskritik Forum, an entertainment organization for BMET officials.  The remaining bicycles are scheduled to be handed over on September 16. 

As labour migration saw a fall in 2019, the government is planning to send more workers abroad in 2020 since some closed labour markets are expected to reopen this year.

Despite increased inflow of remittance in 2019, labour migration from Bangladesh has declined by about 10 percent compared to the previous year, says a new study.