Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Jahidul Islam Mian
remarked that the responsibility does not end with merely providing training to
women; it is also essential to show them where and how they can utilize their
acquired skills to earn an income.
He stated that if training is provided without aligning it
with market demand, the desired results will not be achieved despite the
expenditure of public funds and the trainees’ time. Therefore, prior to
conducting training, it is necessary to plan and research the demands of the
relevant sector, job opportunities, and post-training prospects.
The Deputy Commissioner made these remarks while speaking
as the chief guest at a ceremony where sewing machines were distributed to
participants of the Department of Women Affairs’ “Skill-based Training Program
for Women’s Livelihood.”
Jahidul Islam said, “We must avoid the mindset that simply
being assigned the task of training—and subsequently training twenty people—is
enough. We must also consider where the trainees will work after the training
concludes.”
Urging that priority be given to local market demands when
determining training subjects, he noted that socio-economic realities and
employment opportunities vary across different regions of the country.
Consequently, the same type of training may not be effective everywhere.
Training programs should be designed after assessing the specific skill
requirements of each area.
In this regard, the Deputy Commissioner called upon the
Department of Women Affairs and partner non-governmental organizations to play
a more effective role. He stated that if a woman fails to find an opportunity
to utilize her acquired skills after training and becomes disheartened, the
very purpose of the training is undermined.
Addressing the trainees, Jahidul Islam emphasized that
merely undergoing training is not the end of the journey. They must regularly
practice their skills and adapt to the evolving market trends and technological
advancements.
“Human needs are constantly changing. The products you
create represent an investment of your time, labor, and resources; there must
be a market demand for those products. Therefore, you must constantly reflect
on how much you have enhanced your skills and what new things you have learned
each day,” he said.
The Deputy Commissioner also encouraged the trained women
to share their skills with others. He noted that while a woman starting to earn
an income through training marks a personal success, the initiative gains
social significance when other women in the community also benefit from the
skills she has acquired. Addressing the women who received sewing machines, he
said, “This program will truly succeed only when ten other people receive
training from you and their living standards improve as well.”
Emphasizing hard work and self-development, the Deputy
Commissioner noted that a person’s productive years are limited; therefore, one
must utilize opportunities and time to enhance one’s skills. He urged them not
to rely solely on government assistance but to take personal initiative.
He stated that building a beautiful and humane society is
not something the government or a single institution can achieve alone. The
government, local administration, private organizations, and the general public
must all shoulder their respective responsibilities.
Jahidul Islam remarked that the country’s vast youth
population is a major strength. Transforming this demographic into skilled
human resources could further accelerate the nation’s economic and social
progress.
He also urged that, regarding women’s skill development,
the focus should be on outcomes rather than merely the number of training
sessions conducted. The Deputy Commissioner said, “If you can help ten people
reach a good position and transform their lives, you will see people coming
forward with enthusiasm to receive training.”
He called upon the NGOs implementing the training programs
to design projects based on local needs and to communicate those needs to the
relevant authorities.
The Deputy Commissioner added that trainees should also
inform the relevant officials about their needs and challenges. Launching new
initiatives creates opportunities to secure support from the administration,
the government, and private organizations.
Highlighting the importance of humanity, compassion, and
values in society, Jahidul Islam stated that alongside achieving economic
self-reliance, everyone shares the responsibility of building a humane society.
Children must be taught love, respect, values, and compassion for others
starting from within the family.
He said, “I cannot thrive in isolation. When an inhumane
incident occurs before my eyes, it affects both me and my surroundings. We want
our children to grow up in a beautiful social environment.”
Expressing gratitude to the organizations that supported
the training activities, the Deputy Commissioner urged the trainees to further
expand their skills and stay updated on new technologies and changes in the
international market. He said, “Today’s training is not the end. This skill
needs to be further expanded and enhanced. The world is constantly changing.
You must move forward by keeping pace with that change.”
