State Minister for Youth and Sports, Aminul Haque. File photo

SANGSAD BHABAN, June 16, 2026 (BSS) - State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. 
Aminul Haque today said the government has undertaken a range of awareness and skills development initiatives to protect youths from mobile phone addiction, drug abuse and other social challenges while preparing them as skilled human resources.

Replying to a starred tabled question from ruling party lawmaker Sk. Md. Rejaul Islam elected from Naogaon-6 in the House, he said the Department of Youth Development regularly organises public awareness workshops in every district to educate young people about the harmful effects of excessive mobile phone use, drug addiction and other social issues.

With speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, in the chair, the minister said 
awareness campaigns are also conducted through youth organisations registered 
with the department to promote responsible behaviour among young men and 
women.

To keep youths engaged in productive activities and away from addiction, the 
Department of Youth Development provides one- to six-month vocational 
training courses through its district offices across the country. 

The courses include garment manufacturing, block and batik, fish farming, 
modern office management and computer applications, electrical and house 
wiring, electronics, refrigeration and air conditioning, and mobile phone 
servicing.

In addition, residential youth training centres offer courses on livestock 
rearing, poultry farming, fish cultivation, primary veterinary care and 
agriculture, he said, adding, "Freelancing training programmes are also being 
implemented in all districts."

The state minister said unemployed youths and young women at the upazila 
level are receiving regular training in various non-formal trades through 
local youth development offices based on local market demand to enhance their 
employability and self-employment opportunities.

He further said the government has planned several new programmes to be 
developed within 180 days to create employment opportunities while 
discouraging mobile addiction and drug abuse among young people.

The planned initiatives include freelancing training for unemployed youths in 
all metropolitan cities, mobile phone servicing and language training 
programmes to facilitate employment at home and abroad, and caregiver and 
foreign language training to support overseas job placement.

According to the state minister, implementation of the proposed projects will 
significantly expand employment opportunities for unemployed youths across 
the country.

He also said the National Youth Development Institute is currently offering 
training courses in ICT, freelancing, agriculture, tourism, ready-made 
garments, food and beverage services, and foreign languages for unemployed 
youths aged between 18 and 35 from all districts.

The institute is also planning to introduce Japanese and Korean language 
courses as well as postgraduate diploma programmes in ICT and Fashion Design.

Aminul Haque said all training centres under the Ministry of Youth and Sports 
include modules on ethics, family and social values, religious harmony and 
tolerance, as well as the dangers of drug abuse and moral degradation.

He said these measures are helping participants not only develop professional 
skills but also become more socially responsible citizens.