Photo: BSS

By Md Aynal Haque

RAJSHAHI, May 14, 2026 (BSS) - There was a time when Afsana Mim struggled just to cover her household expenses.

Looking at the face of her six-year-old daughter, she often found her eyes welling up with helplessness.

With her husband’s meager income, even meeting basic daily needs had become difficult. Many nights passed without food—sometimes she sacrificed her own meal, sometimes her child’s needs went unmet.

Those dark days now feel like a distant past. Through technical training, this determined woman from the Bhimer Dying area under Paba Upazila in the district has turned her life around.

Today, at the BRAC Learning Centre in Rajshahi, Afsana Mim shared the painful story of her life at a seminar titled “The Future of Bangladesh through Technical and Vocational Education.”

The seminar, organized by UCEP Bangladesh, honored 10 successful graduates and entrepreneurs. She was one of them.

Standing on stage, her voice grew heavy with emotion. She said, “When I couldn’t meet my daughter’s small needs, my heart would break. We barely managed with my husband’s income as a private car driver. Sometimes even buying milk for my daughter was a struggle. I used to wonder—how long can this go on?”

Amid such harsh realities, in 2024 she learned about a training programme run by UCEP Bangladesh. She later enrolled in the SMO (Sewing Machine Operation) training course and began a new journey. There, she gained essential skills for the garment industry, including drawing, cutting, sewing, overlocking, and finishing.

Afsana said, “At first, I was scared—would I be able to do it? But the instructors encouraged me. Gradually, I learned and was able to change my life.”

Just a few days after completing the training, she secured a job as a general operator at Multi Line Industries Limited, a concern of the PRAN-RFL Group. She now earns Taka 17,000 per month.

She said, “Now my daughter’s needs no longer go unmet. Being able to run the household with my own earnings—that’s my greatest joy.”

Addressing the seminar as chief guest, Divisional Commissioner Dr. A. N. M. Bazlur Rashid said, “There is no alternative to technical and vocational education. To build a skilled workforce, we must place greater emphasis on this sector. Rajshahi is now a city full of potential, and employment opportunities are increasing here.”
He added, “Every year, thousands of young men and women receive training from UCEP. We need to take more effective initiatives so they can join the workforce.”
Chairing the event, Mohammad Abdul Mannan, Director of Program and Innovations at UCEP Bangladesh, said, “There are many educated unemployed people in the country. But due to a lack of proper skills, they are unable to access employment opportunities. UCEP is working in that area by equipping youth with skills through training.”

He said the organization produces around 25,000 trained workers every year. Agriculture-based training programmes have also been launched to help rural communities become economically self-reliant.

UCEP Bangladesh Regional Manager Shahinur Rahman, Director of the Divisional Department of Labour Alamgir Kumkum, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Ibnul Abedin, Assistant Commissioner (Land) Mohammad Mehedi Hasan, and officials from different levels were also present.

At the end of the seminar, awards were presented to successful graduates and entrepreneurs.