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Training program of the Northern Area Poverty Reduction Initiative (NARI) project taken to train unemployed women of North Bengal and to reduce poverty through employment generation has been commenced. Mr. Md. Mujibul Haque, State Minister, Ministry of Labour and Employment formally initiated the training program on 01.08.2016 at Dhaka EPZ in Savar. The project was undertaken as per direction of the Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to facilitate the poor and vulnerable women from lagging areas of North Bengal through this training program and also access to employment opportunities in the garment sector. The project became reality funded by World Bank, supervised by Ministry of Labour and Employment and operated by Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA). Major General Mohd Habibur Rahman Khan, ndc, psc, Executive Chairman, BEPZA presided over the program. Mr. Mikail Shipar, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment attended as Special Guest.
Chief Guest of the program State Minister Mr. Md. Mujibul Haque said in his speech that the project has been undertaken by the initiative of Prime Minister funded by World Bank for poverty reduction through skill development and job opportunities of poor women of Northern region of the country. He said to the trainees, your contribution, side by side employment, to the family and society will be brighter if you successfully utilize this training. You will be self-dependent and empowered. He also said that this is the first project of its kind in Bangladesh for training of women of garments industry including accommodation facilities. If the project is successful, it would be the role model for establishing modern training center in the other places of the country gradually.
Mr. Mikail Shipar, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment said, Honurable Prime Minister Show the dreams, women of the northern region go forward on that means. She has established EPZs in the northern region and this training center with dormitory became truth by her initiative for the poor and vulnerable women of Rangpur Division.
Major General Habibur Rahman Khan, ndc, psc and the Executive Chairman of BEPZA said that we are determined to build the Golden Bengal of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Accordingly, the present government is working to implement Vision of Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to be a middle-income country by 2021 and developed Bangladesh by 2041 in order to make the country prosperous. Consequently, BEPZA is marching ahead to build economically stronger Bangladesh and contributing a lot as a proud partner and playing a pivotal role in socio-economic development.
General Habib said that we are happy to initiate the training program of Northern Area Poverty Reduction Initiative project. BEPZA is proud as the maker of skilled workforce to continue the future economic growth of Bangladesh. Mentioning the EPZs as bonanza of expert labour force and dream entry of women development he said, so far more than 450 thousands workers are employed in the eight EPZs of the country out of which 65% are female.
Executive Chairman of BEPZA said that half of the population of Bangladesh is women; therefore the women development will make the country flourishing. General Habib said to the trainee, ‘you will go forward containing the motto that women’s solvency depend on earning. I am confident you will set an example from your own position in economic development of the country. Therefore the dream of the Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to build developed Bangladesh will be implemented and you will be the proud partner of it.’
Project Director & General Manager (MIS) of BEPZA Mr. Md. Hafizur Rahman said that three dormitories cum training center have been built in Dhaka EPZ, Ishwardi EPZ and Karnaphuli EPZ in Chittagong on the area of 15 Acres of land. 900 trainees with a total of 300 in each batch will be trained on technical & life skill training in three months training program. A total of 10,800 nos. of women would be trained to get employment opportunities in garments sector.
Among other, Mr. Miah Abdullah Mamun, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment and from BEPZA Mr. Abdul Halim Molla, Member (Investment Promotion), Mrs. Nazma Binte Alamgir, General Manager (Public Relations), Mrs. Nafisa Banu, Deputy Project Director (NARI) & Chief Accounts & Finance Officer, Mr. Md. Lokman Ali, General Manager (Security), Mr. Md. Abdus Sobhan, General Manager of Dhaka EPZ including the higher officials of Ministry of labour, BEPZA and concerned personnel of the project were present in the program.