Md Rakel Islam, Bogura

A nationwide AI training programme has been inaugurated under the 'Skill Development of IT-savvy Youth through Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technology' project of the Department of Youth Development.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Aminul Haque inaugurated the program as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony held at Mom's Inn Auditorium in Bogura on Sunday.

The event was attended as special guests by State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, State Minister for Public Administration Md. Abdul Bari, Member of Parliament from Bogra-6 constituency Rezaul Karim Badsha, MP from Bogra-4 constituency Mosharraf Hossain, MP from Bogra-3 constituency Abdul Muhit Talukder, Reserved Women MP Suraiya Jerin Rony, Deputy Commissioner Taufiqur Rahman, Superintendent of Police Mirza Sayem Mahmud, Zila Parishad Administrator Ahsanul Tayyab Zakir, Project Director and representatives of training institutions.

The program was presided over by Mahbub-ul-Alam, Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports. In addition, about 2,000 trainees, project officers, trainers and coordinators from different districts of the country were connected virtually. The guests gave encouraging speeches to them.

In his inaugural speech, State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Aminul Haque said that the government is working to prepare the youth for the technology-based workplace by acquiring artificial intelligence-based skills. This training will create employment and self-employment opportunities. He also mentioned the plan to establish 10 international standard sports villages in different parts of the country, including Bogra.

State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam said that the government's initiative to develop technology-based skills will help increase employment opportunities at the local level. He urged the trainees to use the skills they have acquired to create employment opportunities.

State Minister for Public Administration Md. Abdul Bari said that such training programs will play an important role in developing skilled human resources based on information technology. He emphasized on the trainees' regular participation in acquiring skills.

Masud Alam, Managing Director of E-Learning and Earning Limited, said, "The project has been formulated with the aim of developing AI-based skills. Trainees will be given the opportunity to use various modern AI tools so that they can acquire the necessary skills according to the needs of the domestic and international job market."

In his speech, Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mahbub-ul-Alam, said that the project aims to make IT-savvy youth skilled in artificial intelligence technology. This training will help in increasing the capacity for technology-based employment, self-employment, entrepreneurship and earning foreign exchange.

It was informed at the event that in the first phase of the project, a total of 1,600 trainees have been selected from 64 districts of the country, 25 each. The training program will be conducted in a total of 448 batches, where 25 people will participate in each batch. The duration of each course is two months. During this period, a total of 300 hours of training will be provided through 50 classes.

At the event, laptops were handed over to eight freelancers who earned the highest income at the divisional level under the ongoing freelancing project of the Department of Youth Development. In addition, 24 freelancers from different districts of Rajshahi division were presented with honorary mementos.