The Daily Corporate Desk
Dhaka, 23 August 2026: The government has proposed a Tk683 crore nationwide programme to train more than 51,000 unemployed and job-seeking youths in freelancing, as part of efforts to expand digital employment, develop a skilled workforce and strengthen Bangladesh’s participation in the global gig economy.
The Department of Youth Development has prepared a Development Project Proposal (DPP) titled “Creating Employment through Freelancing Training for Unemployed Youths in All Metropolitan Cities.” The five-year programme, proposed for implementation from July 2026 to June 2031, has been submitted to the Planning Commission for approval.
The initiative will target youths across 13 metropolitan cities, providing market-oriented training designed to enable participants to secure assignments from both domestic and international clients.
Focus on employability and market access
Rather than focusing solely on technical training, the programme is designed to build the practical capabilities required to operate in international freelancing marketplaces.
Training modules will cover online marketplace operations, professional profile and portfolio development, project bidding, client communication and assignment management.
The government estimates that 60–70% of participants could enter income-generating activities after completing the training, with an objective of enabling trainees to begin earning within three to six months.
Participants will also receive certification, mentorship, job-linkage support and post-training follow-up. Where required, technological assistance, including laptops and other equipment, may be provided to selected trainees.
Women and marginalised groups prioritised
The programme places particular emphasis on expanding digital employment opportunities among women, low-income and marginalised youths. The government has set a target of 30–40% female participation.
The standard training programme will run for approximately three months and will consist of basic and advanced levels. High-performing participants will have the opportunity to progress to advanced training.
Educational qualifications will not be the primary selection criterion. Instead, basic computer literacy, learning ability and commitment to the programme will be given greater consideration.
13 metropolitan markets in focus
The programme will cover Dhaka North, Dhaka South, Chattogram, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Khulna, Rajshahi, Bogura, Sylhet, Rangpur, Barishal, Cumilla and Mymensingh.
According to officials, metropolitan areas provide a strategic base for the programme as they attract young people from across the country for education and employment.
Building a scalable digital workforce
Youth Development Department Director (Training) Priyasindhu Talukder said the country’s conventional employment market has limited capacity, while freelancing enables Bangladeshi workers to access a much larger pool of international demand.
Bangladesh has already expanded government-backed freelancing programmes from an initial 16 districts to 48 districts and subsequently across all 64 districts.
The proposed metropolitan-focused programme is expected to build on that experience by creating a more structured pipeline from skills development to market access and income generation.
Leveraging the demographic dividend
The project proposal identifies Bangladesh’s large working-age population as a significant economic opportunity but warns that the country’s demographic dividend is time-bound. Experts cited in the document expect the advantage to begin declining between 2033 and 2040.
The government therefore views digital skills development as a strategic tool for converting the country’s young population into a productive workforce before the demographic window narrows.
At the same time, global demand for graphic design, digital marketing, web development, content creation and data processing continues to create opportunities for remote workers.
If approved and effectively implemented, the Tk683 crore programme could serve as a significant public investment in Bangladesh’s digital workforce—linking youth skills development with employment creation, exportable digital services and foreign-income generation.
