State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque today opened freelancing training programme. Photo: Ministry

DHAKA, July 1, 2026 (BSS) - A three-month nationwide freelancing training programme has been inaugurated with the aim of equipping educated unemployed youth with marketable digital skills and expanding employment opportunities in the country's growing digital economy.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque today opened the course at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Youth and Sports conference room simultaneously across all 64 districts, said a ministry press release.

The training programme is being implemented under the Department of Youth Development's project titled "Creating Employment through Freelancing Training for Educated Job-Seeking Youth in All 64 Districts”.

Youth and Sports Secretary Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam chaired the event, while Dr Gazi Md Saifuzzaman, Director General of the Department of Youth Development, moderated the programme. 

District-level officials, representatives of E-Learning and Earning Limited, and nearly 5,000 trainees participated in the event both in person and virtually.

Speaking as the chief guest, Aminul Haque said developing a skilled workforce capable of meeting the evolving demands of the digital economy is one of the government's key priorities. 

He said that 4,800 young men and women are receiving training in high-demand fields such as computer applications, digital marketing and graphic design under the seventh batch of this project. 

“This initiative will enable them to pursue self-employment while contributing to the national economy through foreign currency earnings from freelancing,” he said, adding, “I believe this government-led training programme will play an effective role in reducing unemployment and strengthening the economic self-reliance of families across the country."

According to project officials, the Tk 373.77 crore project will run from January 2024 to December 2027, with a target of training 36,000 educated young men and women across the country. 

Training activities officially began on January 1, 2025, and are currently being conducted by E-Learning and Earning Ltd in all 64 districts under the country's eight administrative divisions.

The seventh batch, running from July 1 to September 30, 2026, includes 4,800 trainees, with 75 participants selected from each district. Eligible applicants are aged between 18 and 35 years and possess at least a Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) qualification.

Participants were selected through written and oral examinations conducted by district-level committees comprising representatives from the district administration, the Department of Youth Development and the training provider.

Officials said more than 100,000 applications were submitted for the current batch. Around 70,000 applicants were shortlisted for the written examination before the final selection of 4,800 trainees.

Under the project, 19,200 participants have already completed training in the previous six batches. Of them, nearly 60 per cent, or 11,353 freelancers, are currently working on local and international freelancing marketplaces.

Project data showed that graduates have collectively earned approximately $ 19.99 lakh, along with Tk 9.90 crore in domestic earnings, bringing their total income to Tk 34.49 crore. 

To further enhance participants' career prospects, mentoring sessions have been introduced in every district to support income generation and long-term professional development. 

The three-month programme consists of 600 hours of training, with participants attending eight hours of instruction daily.

The curriculum covers computer office applications, freelancing fundamentals, basic English, digital marketing, soft skills, smartphone-based freelancing, graphic design and video editing.

Officials also said trainees are provided with transportation allowances, meals and all necessary training materials. 

Upon successful completion, participants will receive certificates, while the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Department of Youth Development and other relevant authorities will continue to monitor the programme to ensure quality standards.