BDJobs Launches First-Ever Freshers’ Job and Career Fair in Dhaka
Bangladesh’s leading job portal, BDJobs.com, has organised its first-ever Freshers’ Job and Career Fair, bringing together novice job seekers and employers at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in Dhaka.
The day-long fair aims to recruit more than 500 entry-level employees, with participation from over 150 local and multinational companies, according to the organisers. Employers have set up stalls at the venue to collect CVs, provide career guidance and advise young job seekers on how to improve their chances of employment.
The country’s largest job fair of this kind was inaugurated on Monday, 22 December, amid massive participation from young job seekers, by Dr Nazneen Kawsar Chowdhury, Executive Chairman of the National Skills Development Authority. The opening ceremony was presided over by BDJobs CEO Fahim Mashroor, while BDJobs Director Prokash Roy Chowdhury delivered the welcome address. BDJobs.com Chairman Ahmed Islam Mukusit gave the concluding remarks.
Speaking as the chief guest, Dr Nazneen Kawsar Chowdhury said certificates alone do not define competence. “A certificate is merely a licence to swim in the ocean of knowledge. A PhD does not make someone an expert; it qualifies one to become a researcher,” she said, urging young people not to feel disheartened if they fail to secure jobs through examinations alone.
Addressing fresh graduates, she emphasised the importance of patience and continuous skills development. “With so many options available, choosing the right path has become difficult. Instead of being impatient, focus on building skills and staying updated with the world,” she said. She also highlighted the need for technical, vocational and soft skills alongside academic knowledge, noting that leadership qualities often develop through extracurricular activities such as sports.
Dr Chowdhury added that the government has established 1,568 training centres nationwide and launched online certification through a pool of 3,000 Skill Service Organisations (SSOs). She also mentioned the recent introduction of an overseas employment platform to create global opportunities for Bangladeshi youth.
Earlier, BDJobs CEO Fahim Mashroor noted that fresh graduates represent the largest group affected by unemployment. Citing data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), he said the overall unemployment rate stands at around 4 percent, while youth unemployment is close to 17 percent. Although unemployment among primary-level graduates is about 2 percent, the rate among university graduates stands at 18–19 percent.
He also pointed out that the proportion of graduates working overseas as labourers has risen from 3.5 percent to 10 percent over the past decade, underscoring the need to align higher education with market demand. “Graduates must be equipped with practical, job-oriented skills and prepared not only for local but also for international job markets,” he said.
Organisers informed that BDJobs has hosted 13 job fairs across campuses, cities and sectors nationwide between January and December this year.
Following the inauguration, a seminar titled “Overseas Job Market: Opportunities and Preparation” was scheduled as part of the event.
DBTech/BDJO/EK/OR
