Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid Tuesday called upon the private entrepreneurs to come forward to produce necessary skilled manpower, along with the government, for the country’s industries including the garment sector, reports BSS. The minister made this appeal while speaking as the chief guest at the 2nd graduation ceremony of BGMEA Institute of Fashion and Technology (BIFT) at International Convention City Basundhara at Kuril in the city. “The development of the country can’t be ensured with certificate-dependent traditional education. Our new generation should be enlightened with the light of world standard science and technology in accordance with the demand of industries,” he said. Nahid said, “Over 19,000 foreigners were engaged in the country’s garment sector due to lack of skilled manpower. The government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took an initiative four years back to offset the skilled manpower crisis in the garment sector by transforming Bangladesh Textiles Institute at Tejgaon into a full-fledged public university, Bangladesh Textiles University. Alongside, the private sector BITF has been escalated to BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (BUFT)”. The minister said the foreign manpower in the country’s garment industry has been declining as scope for higher education in ready-to-wear sector had already been created. “At present, a total of 12,000 foreigners are working in the garment industry,” he said hoping that the vacuum will be filled with local manpower expeditiously. Pointing at the authorities of the private universities including BUFT, Nahid said, “Take the noble responsibility you have initiated to create our young force into skilled manpower as your service, not as your business. Give the skilled young force employment in your industries and do business there.” Chairman of the BUFT Board of Trustees Mozaffar U Siddique presided over the function, also addressed, among others, by vice-chancellor of National University Prof Dr Harun-Ar-Rashid, vice-chancellor of BUFT Prof Dr Syed Masood Hossain, president of BGMEA Siddiqur Rahman and former president Atiqul Islam. Major (retd) Abdul Mannan was the graduation ceremony speaker at the function, said a press release. At total of 962 graduates were conferred with degrees at the ceremony.
