January 27, 2026, in Banani, the National Skills Dialogue 2026 served as a critical platform for discussing Bangladesh's national vision regarding employment and workforce readiness. The event, attended by vice-chancellors, academics, and political representatives, stressed the urgent need to transition the nation's economic model from exporting basic labour to exporting high-value skills.
Key Perspectives & Strategic Vision The session highlighted three major areas of reform required to future-proof the Bangladeshi workforce:
Skills as the Future Currency: K M Hasan Ripon, Managing Director of GEN Bangladesh and session chair, emphasized that in the modern global economy, "skills are the currency of the future." He argued that the primary national objective must be preparing young people for adaptability and global competitiveness rather than traditional employment roles.
► WATCH EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Click to watch on Facebook
Need for a Unified Framework: Yousuf Efti, Founder and Executive Vice President of the Trainers’ Association of Bangladesh, warned of a widening gap between educational outcomes and labour market demands. He called for the establishment of an "independent and future-focused human resource development framework," noting that without coordinated national skills governance, workforce planning will remain inefficient.
Reforming Higher Education: Md Sabur Khan, President of the Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh, urged universities to move beyond "degree-centric models." He advocated for integrating employability skills and industry exposure directly into academic pathways to ensure graduates are job-ready immediately upon completion of their studies.
The Path Forward: The dialogue concluded with a unified call to action. Participants demanded a sustained, non-partisan commitment to workforce development, ensuring that policies remain consistent regardless of political changes to build a skilled, resilient, and future-focused Bangladesh.
About the Organizers
GEN Bangladesh GEN Bangladesh is the national chapter of the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), a platform operating in 200+ countries to make it easier for anyone, anywhere to start and scale a business. By fostering collaboration between entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, policymakers, and support organizations, GEN Bangladesh works to build a more inclusive and resilient entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through initiatives like Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), GEN Campus, and various innovation bootcamps, the organization aims to shift the national narrative from job seeking to job creation, empowering the next generation of Bangladeshi leaders.
Trainers’ Association of Bangladesh (TAB) The Trainers’ Association of Bangladesh (TAB) is a leading professional body dedicated to the development and standardization of the training and development sector in Bangladesh. TAB brings together professional trainers, HR practitioners, and industry experts to enhance the quality of human capital development in the country. The association advocates for skills governance, promotes global best practices in corporate and vocational training, and works to bridge the gap between academic education and industry requirements, ensuring the workforce is equipped with future-ready skills.
- Media Coverage: