President Abdul Hamid on Wednesday underscored the need for a university for entrepreneurs to make their development activities more dynamic and professional apart from checking the brain drain. ‘Most new ideas of innovations in most developed countries come through the endeavours of various educational institutions. But teachers and students in our country don’t feel inspired to involve themselves in new and innovative activities for lack of necessary sponsorships. They go abroad as their aptitude is not being valued in the country,’ he said.
The president said this while addressing the inaugural ceremony of ‘Entrepreneurship and Innovation Expo’ at the city’s Sonargoan Hotel.
Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry in cooperation with Bangladesh Bank has taken an initiative to create 2,000 entrepreneurs throughout the country.
Speaking on the occasion, the president said, ‘I urge both the private and public sectors to come forward to evaluate the merits of the youth as well as utilise their innovations. I think establishment of an entrepreneurs’ development university is needed under a public-private initiative to make the entrepreneurs development activities more dynamic and professional.’
The rate of unemployment is relatively more in Bangladesh, said the president adding that lakhs of potentials youths entered the job market every year. ‘A few of them are accommodated in various government and private organisations. But it’s not possible to create employment opportunities for a large number of people through only jobs.’
‘That’s why the scope has to be created for the youths for self-employment through businessmen-entrepreneurs. Mainly it is the government duty but for various limitations it is not possible for government’s alone to discharge the duty. Governments in many countries of the world create creative entrepreneurs with the help of the private sector. I’m delighted as well as optimistic that this type of activities has begun in our country,’ he said.
Hailing the DCCI initiative, the president said, ‘The main aim of the entrepreneurship and innovation expo is to create a scope of new employments through creating entrepreneurs. There has been ample opportunity in the country to crate employments through creating entrepreneurs. I believe the Dhaka chamber with the support of Bangladesh Bank is creating 2,000 new entrepreneurs which will play a positive role in the country’s industrialisation.’
Bangladesh Bank governor Atiur Rahman, Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, DCCI president Sabur Khan and American Chamber of Commerce president Aftab Ul Islam also spoke.
-With New Age input
