GUEST & SPEAKER STRUCTURE

Chief Guest:  Mr. Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki — MP, Honorable Minister of State, Ministry of Planning

Moderator:  Syed Almas Kabir — Chairman, BIIN; Former President, BASIS

Keynote Speaker:  Shahir Chowdhury — CEO, Shikho
Panelist (Government): Dr. Nazneen Kawshar Chowdhury (Executive Chairman, NSDA)
Panelist (Government): Mr. Md. Motaher Hossain, Director General, Department of Youth

Panelists (Private):  Akhteruddin Mahmood (DMD, Bank Asia)
Panelists (Private): Ms. Durdana Kabir, Human Resource Director, Unilever Bangladesh
Panelists (Academia Representative): Dr. Sutapa Bhattacharjee (IBA, University of Dhaka)

Panelists (Academia Representative): Dr. Shazzad, EC- Dean, North South University

Panelists (Academia Representative): Dr. Zunaid Kazi, CEO, Knowtomation

CONTEXT & BACKGROUND

Around two-thirds of Bangladesh's population is of working age, and roughly two million young people enter the labour force every year (BBS Labour Force Survey) — a demographic dividend with an expiry date. Yet youth not in employment, education or training remains stubbornly high, and employers consistently cite skills mismatch as a leading hiring constraint (World Bank; ADB skills studies). Meanwhile Bangladesh has become one of the world's largest suppliers of online freelance labour (Oxford Internet Institute), and home-grown EdTech platforms such as Shikho and 10 Minute School have shown that technology can deliver quality learning at a fraction of conventional cost — evidence that the gap between education and employment can be closed faster than institutions alone can reform.

SYNOPSIS

Bangladesh's demographic dividend becomes economic value only when education, skills and employment systems align with the future economy. Following the core agenda, this session explores how technology and EdTech can make skills development more accessible, industry-aligned and employment-focused, while creating stronger connections between education, employers and future job opportunities. Education leaders, EdTech founders, corporate HR leaders, skills agencies and youth-focused innovators will examine micro-credentials, work-based learning, career services, freelancing pathways and entrepreneurship — the machinery that moves a young person from learning to earning.

OBJECTIVE OF THE SESSION

Identify how technology-enabled education and EdTech can make skills development accessible, industry-aligned and employment-focused — and build durable bridges between educators, employers and Bangladesh's youth.