Dhaka, June 17 -- A remarkable demographic feature of Bangladesh is its youthful population, with over one-third of the population between the ages of 15 and 35. This significant youth bulge presents a unique opportunity to harness the demographic dividend to accelerate national growth and development. However, reaping this demographic advantage requires a systematic and robust strategy to develop, refine, and utilize the skills of the country's youth.

Skills in this context refer not only to technical and vocational capabilities but also to cognitive, digital, entrepreneurial, and soft skills necessary for participation in the modern economy. Youth skills development is not merely a workforce issue; it is intrinsically tied to broader n...