Unemployment and poverty rising, mob culture a major challenge

Bangla Press Desk:   Speakers have warned that rising unemployment, an increase in the number of people living below the poverty line, and a growing mob-dependent trend in political culture are alarming signals for the country.

They said that ensuring youth employment and a sustainable economic future requires not just statistics, but also structural reforms, skills development and political stability.

They made these remarks at a dialogue titled “Open Discussion for Democratic Reconstruction: The Issue of Youth Employment” held at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital yesterday, Saturday afternoon (13 December). The dialogue was organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS).

At the event, BNP Standing Committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan said that although unemployment is an important issue in the Bangladesh context, its real picture does not fully correspond to the concept of unemployment described in economics textbooks. He said he does not see the 4.36 per cent unemployment rate as a very serious crisis, as the full reality cannot be understood on the basis of percentages alone. In Bangladesh, such statistics often do not accurately reflect reality.

At the beginning of the programme, CGS President Zillur Rahman said that the main driving force behind the changes of July–August was the country’s youth. Yet, despite young people making up one-third of the population, educated unemployment is rising and employment opportunities are not being created accordingly. He said youth participation does not simply mean giving them positions in ministries or parliament; true participation means creating opportunities for them to rise into leadership through a healthy process.

President of the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries, Anwar-ul Alam Chowdhury, said that mob culture and political malpractice remain major challenges, there is no long-term plan to address the energy crisis, and the industrial sector is suffering from a shortage of skilled manpower. He also said there is no room for excessive complacency regarding graduation from LDC status.

Economist Dr Mohammad Parvez Imdad said that although remittances and the ready-made garments sector are the main drivers of the economy, they are not sufficient. He stressed the need to reduce the digital divide and develop technology-based sectors. Dhaka University Pro-Vice-Chancellor Dr Sayema Haq Bidisha said there is a mismatch between economic growth and employment, leading to rising educated unemployment and an acute skills mismatch.

Former CPB General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince said the main goal should be to ensure sustainable employment for young people, not just jobs. Gano Adhikar Parishad General Secretary Rashed Khan said unemployment is the biggest challenge facing young people after completing their degrees. He said the state has failed to ensure sustainable employment since 1971. Long-standing quota systems have created structural inequality, he added. He argued that without free and fair elections, investment will not come and employment will not be created, calling for elections free of fascism.

Jahangirnagar University Vice-Chancellor Dr Kamrul Ahsan said the problem is not a lack of jobs, but a lack of skills. With skills, even a person with limited education can earn a good income. Didarul Alam Bhuiya, coordinator of the State Reform Movement, said an environment is being created to keep young people inactive through drug trafficking and corruption. He said that with proper investment and planning, employment can be created in rural areas.

Dhaka University professor Samina Lutfah said there is a deep mismatch between education, skills and employment. She emphasised the need for appropriate institutional arrangements, including day-care facilities, to increase women’s employment.

CGS Executive Director Parvez Karim Abbasi said that although around 700,000 graduates enter the labour market every year, only about 100,000 find jobs. He said this reality has created an urgent need to build a sustainable employment framework for young people.

BP/TD