Manikchhari (Khagrachari) Correspondent

With the aim of transforming the youth into skilled manpower and involving them in the development of the country by emphasizing on work-oriented education, a 'Computer and Networking Training' course has been inaugurated under the project titled Tekab-2nd Phase under the Youth Development Department in Manikchhari Upazila of Khagrachari with the participation of 40 educated unemployed youth of the upazila.

This computer training started on Sunday  at 10 am in a sparkling AC bus. The educated unemployed youth standing in this bus standing in the Upazila Parishad premises are finding new ways to speed up their lives.

Earlier, Hafiza Irin, Deputy Director of the Youth Development Department Khagrachari, inaugurated a 2-month-long training course on 'Computer and Networking' at the Upazila Parishad auditorium at 9:30 am.  The inaugural ceremony held under the chairmanship of UNO Tahmina Afroz Bhuiyan was addressed by Upazila Youth Development Officer Sheikh Ashraf Uddin, Upazila Agriculture Officer Zahir Raihan, Cooperative Officer Sangeeta Bhowmik, Assistant Upazila Youth Development Officer Zakir Hossain, Trainer Md. Sharif ul Kashem, Sourav Roy, trainees and officials of various departments.

According to the Upazila Youth Development Officer's office, 'This bus, run by the Youth Development Department, is basically a mobile computer training center. A total of 40 trainees are getting the opportunity to learn computers here in 4 shifts over a period of 2 months.'

It is learned that this program is being run under the 'Technology Empowerment Center on Wheels for Underprivileged Rural Young People of Bangladesh (TEKAB)' project.

The trainees said that such an initiative is a blessing for them. By getting free training, they will increase their skills and get a chance to enter the workforce and get rid of unemployment.

Upazila Youth Development Officer Sheikh Ashraf Uddin said that 20 girls and 20 boys have been selected for training through oral examination after receiving applications from unemployed educated youth of each union of the upazila. He further said that after the training, the students will receive a certificate, which is equivalent to a 6-month diploma course.

Using this certificate, they can apply for government and private jobs and also take loans from banks at low interest. He hopes that this initiative will largely eliminate the unemployment problem of rural youth.

Manikchhari UNO  Tahmina Afroz said that free quality computer training is being provided to poor and talented youth of the village. After the training, they will be able to become self-reliant and their quality of life will improve.