Government Organisations in Bangladesh Involved in Training Programmes

The Government of Bangladesh has established a robust network of training institutions and programmes aimed at transforming the country’s population into a skilled human resource base. To meet the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and achieve the vision of ‘Smart Bangladesh’, these initiatives focus on capacity building, technical vocational education and training (TVET), and enhancing the efficiency of both public and private sectors.

Below is a detailed breakdown of the key government bodies involved in these training initiatives.

1. Ministry of Education

The Ministry of Education oversees the formal technical education sector, ensuring that the academic curriculum aligns with industrial demands.

A. Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) The DTE acts as the central administrative body for technical education. It is responsible for the operation and management of government-owned technical institutions across the country.

• Key Institutions: It manages 49 Government Polytechnic Institutes, 64 Technical School and Colleges (TSCs), and various monolithic institutions like the Bangladesh Institute of Glass and Ceramics and the Graphic Arts Institute.
• Training Scope: Offers Diploma in Engineering courses (4 years) and SSC/HSC (Vocational) courses.
• Focus: Core engineering disciplines (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Computer) and emerging technologies.

B. Bangladesh Technical Education Board (BTEB) Unlike the DTE which manages operations, the BTEB is the statutory regulatory authority. It is responsible for:

• Accreditation: Granting affiliation to both government and private technical institutions.
• Curriculum Development: Designing and updating the syllabus for TVET courses to match international standards.
• Assessment: Conducting examinations and issuing certificates for all vocational and technical courses.

 

 

2. Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment

This ministry plays a pivotal role in the country’s economy by training the workforce specifically for the international labour market.

A. Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) BMET is the core operational arm responsible for skills development for migration. It manages a vast network of training centres designed to equip aspiring migrants with trade-specific skills.

• Technical Training Centres (TTCs): BMET operates over 100 Technical Training Centres (TTCs) across the districts.

  • Courses Offered: These centres offer courses in trades such as electrical installation, refrigeration and air conditioning, welding, masonry, driving, and garment manufacturing.

  • Pre-Departure Training: Mandatory briefings on the laws, culture, and safety regulations of the destination countries.

  • RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning): They also assess and certify skilled workers who learned their trade through informal experience.

• Institutes of Marine Technology (IMTs): Located in key areas like Narayanganj, Chandpur, and Bagerhat, these institutes focus on the maritime sector.

  • Training Scope: Shipbuilding, marine engineering, and navigation technology to support both domestic riverine transport and international shipping needs.

 

 

3. Ministry of Women and Children Affairs

This ministry focuses on the socio-economic empowerment of women and the development of children through targeted training initiatives.

A. Department of Women Affairs (DWA) The DWA operates a grassroots network to provide skills training to underprivileged and rural women to ensure financial independence.

• Residential Training Centres: The department operates seven specific residential training centres (such as the Savar Training Centre) where women receive accommodation and intensive training.

• Trade Focus: Computer applications, industrial sewing, block and batik printing, beautification, and food processing.

• Impact: These programmes often include a micro-credit component to help trainees start their own small businesses upon completion.

B. Jatiyo Mohila Sangstha (National Women’s Organisation) This statutory body works to implement the National Women’s Development Policy.

• Project-Based Training: Through projects like Tottho Apa (Digital Lady), they provide ICT training to rural women.

• Urban Development: They run Urban Based Women Development Projects offering training in cottage industries, tailoring, and embroidery to urban slum dwellers.

C. Bangladesh Shishu Academy Focused on the mental and cultural development of children.

• Creative Training: Unlike the industrial focus of other bodies, the Shishu Academy provides training in fine arts, music, dance, recitation, and theatre to nurture the creative potential of children and adolescents.

4. Ministry of Social Welfare

This ministry focuses on the rehabilitation and skills development of the most vulnerable sections of society, including persons with disabilities, orphans, and the destitute.

Department of Social Services (DSS) The DSS manages a comprehensive social safety net and training framework.

• Vocational Training for Persons with Disabilities: Specialised centres provide training in trades suitable for differently-abled individuals, such as plastic moulding, computer applications, and tailoring, to integrate them into the mainstream workforce.
• Correctional Centres: Juvenile Development Centres offer education and vocational training to juvenile offenders to facilitate their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
• Urban Community Development (UCD): These units provide short-term skills training to the urban poor in slum areas to enhance income-generation capabilities.

 

 

5. Ministry of Youth and Sports

With a significant portion of the population being young, this ministry is crucial for transforming the ‘youth bulge’ into a ‘demographic dividend’.

Department of Youth Development (DYD) The DYD is the primary government body responsible for youth training.

• Institutional Training: The department operates residential Youth Training Centres (YTCs) in every district.
• Course Variety: Training ranges from ICT and electronics to agriculture-based trades (livestock, poultry, and fisheries), aiming to create self-employed entrepreneurs.
• National Service Programme: A temporary employment scheme that includes a mandatory three-month training period in disaster management and nation-building activities.

 

 

6. Specialised Government Organisations Involved in Training

Beyond the primary ministries, various autonomous bodies and corporations provide high-level, industry-specific training.

A. Industrial and Technical Sector

• Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC):

  • Focus: Entrepreneurship development for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

  • Design Centre: The BSCIC Design Centre provides training in innovative product design, packaging, and fashion design to make local cottage products export-ready.

  • SCITI: The Small and Cottage Industries Training Institute offers management and skill development courses.

• Bangladesh Industrial and Technical Assistance Centre (BITAC):

  • High-Tech Skills: BITAC is the premier institute for advanced technical training. It focuses on import-substituting spare parts manufacturing.

  • SEPA Project: The Skills for Employment Investment Program (SEIP) under BITAC offers hands-on training in operating CNC machines, plastic processing, and light engineering.

• Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC):

  • Training Institute: The Training Institute for Chemical Industries (TICI) in Narsingdi is a centre of excellence. It provides sophisticated training on process control, instrumentation, and chemical laboratory techniques for the fertilizer and paper industries.

• Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC):

  • Diversification: While traditional milling has declined, training centres under the BJMC (and the Jute Diversification Promotion Centre – JDPC) now focus on producing diversified jute products like shopping bags, footwear, and home textiles to revitalise the sector.

B. Service and Infrastructure Sector

• Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC):

  • NHTTI: The National Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (NHTTI) is the pioneer in the hospitality sector. It offers diploma and certificate courses in Food & Beverage Production (Chef), Front Office Management, and Travel Agency Operations.

• Bangladesh Railway:

  • Railway Training Academy (RTA): Located in Halishahar, Chittagong, this academy trains railway cadre officers and staff in locomotive operation, signaling, telecommunication, and civil engineering maintenance.

• Department of Shipping:

  • Maritime Training: Through the National Maritime Institute (NMI) and Marine Academies, the department trains ratings and cadets in seamanship, marine engineering, and fire-fighting, adhering to international IMO standards.

• Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB):

  • Rural Entrepreneurship: The BRDB conducts massive training programmes at the Upazila level, focusing on cooperative management, micro-credit utilisation, and rural livelihood trades.

C. ICT and Health Sector

• Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC):

  • BKIICT: The Bangladesh Korea Institute of Information and Communication Technology (BKIICT) offers post-graduate diplomas and specialised courses.

  • Emerging Tech: Under projects like LICT (Leveraging ICT), the BCC provides training on 4th Industrial Revolution technologies, including Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Cyber Security.

• Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) & Nursing Council:

  • Medical Assistants: Operates Medical Assistant Training Schools (MATS) across the country.

  • Nursing: The Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council oversees numerous Nursing Institutes that provide Diploma and BSc degrees in Nursing, critical for the national healthcare infrastructure.

The Government of Bangladesh has recognised that infrastructure development must be matched with human capital development. By decentralising training facilities—from the high-tech labs of BITAC in Dhaka to the grassroots level training of the Department of Social Services—the government is creating a comprehensive ecosystem. These initiatives are designed not only to reduce unemployment but to equip the nation to compete on a global scale.