Create technology-dependent job sectors in the country

Over the last two decades, the alarming increase in the number of talented students leaving the country has been a matter of concern. Numerous articles have been published in newspapers and magazines on this issue. Primarily, talented graduates and students are compelled to leave the country due to the lack of desired employment opportunities. Abroad, they often struggle to find any job with reasonable assurance of security. While this may bring some remittances to the country, the emigration of talented individuals remains worrisome for Bangladesh.

Recently, the Vice-Chancellor of BUET, Professor Dr. Satya Prasad Majumdar, also mentioned this issue at an event, stating that the country's graduates are not finding the desired jobs and are moving to various countries. Therefore, he urged for the creation of more technology-dependent job sectors in the country. According to a news published in the newspaper, it is learned that through joint industrial research, technological studies, and knowledge exchange, the China-Bangladesh Joint Industry Research, Technological Studies, and Knowledge Exchange Initiative aims to build a Smart Bangladesh and strengthen relations between BUET and China. The China Enterprise Association in Bangladesh (CEAB) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Research and Innovation Center for Science and Engineering (RICE) at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) to this end. On Monday evening (June 3), the memorandum of understanding was signed at the seminar room of the RISE Center in BUET's ECE building.

This statement is extremely important and imperative for the Government of Bangladesh to adhere to. In this technology-dependent world, there is no alternative to creating technology-dependent job sectors. The majority of Bangladesh's population still relies heavily on manual labor. Even in foreign labor markets, there is high demand for Bangladeshi workers in manual labor. Therefore, focusing on creating technology-driven job opportunities is crucial for the country's development. Very few technology-dependent professionals from Bangladesh go abroad for employment. Conversely, a significant portion of foreign professionals who come to work in Bangladesh are technologically skilled. As a result, they command higher salaries. On the contrary, Bangladeshi manual laborers often find themselves compelled to work for very low wages abroad.

Moreover, due to the scarcity of skilled labor in our technology-dependent sectors, we are increasingly accepting more technologists from abroad. This leaves many of our students unemployed and disheartened. Just a few days ago, an editorial in Views Bangladesh highlighted that many subjects taught in Bangladesh's universities are still not included in the labor market, where there is demand. The government has indeed created opportunities for admitting more students in those subjects. It seems as if these subjects are perceived as avenues for generating unemployment, as they continue to thrive. Students will study, but they might remain unemployed; however, the government cannot be blamed for that.

To provide relief to students in this situation, the government needs to take effective initiatives. The memorandum of understanding between the China Enterprise Association in Bangladesh (CEAB) and the Research and Innovation Center for Science and Engineering (RICE) at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) is a commendable initiative. We hope that these initiatives will remain intact and those undertaken will function appropriately. If we fail to create technology-dependent job sectors, we won't be able to retain our talented students in the country. That would be an irreparable loss for the nation.