A nationwide Artificial Intelligence (AI) training program has been launched by the Department of Youth Development to equip young people with information technology knowledge and practical AI skills.

The program was inaugurated on Sunday at Mom Inn Auditorium in Bogura by State Minister for Youth and Sports, Md. Aminul Haque, as the chief guest.

Among the special guests were State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, State Minister for Public Administration Md. Abdul Bari, Members of Parliament Rezaul Karim Badsha (Bogura-6), Mosharraf Hossain (Bogura-4), Abdul Muhit Talukder (Bogura-3), Reserved Seat MP Suraiya Zerin Rony, Deputy Commissioner Toufiqur Rahman, Superintendent of Police Mirza Sayeem Mahmud, District Council Administrator Ahsanul Tayeb Zakir, the project director, and representatives of the training institutions.

The event was chaired by Mahbub-ul-Alam, Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Around 2,000 trainees, project officials, trainers, and coordinators from different districts also joined the inauguration virtually.

In his inaugural speech, State Minister Md. Aminul Haque said the government is working to prepare the country’s youth for technology-driven employment through AI-based skills development. He noted that the training program would create new opportunities for employment and self-employment. He also mentioned the government’s plan to establish 10 international-standard sports villages across the country, including in Bogura.

State Minister Mir Shahe Alam said the initiative would play a significant role in expanding employment opportunities at the local level by enhancing technology-based skills. He urged trainees to apply their newly acquired knowledge in practical workplaces.

State Minister for Public Administration Md. Abdul Bari described the program as an important initiative for developing a skilled workforce in information technology. He encouraged participants to attend the training regularly and make the best use of the learning opportunities.

Managing Director of E-Learning and Earning Limited, Masud Alam, said the project would provide participants with hands-on experience in using modern AI tools, enabling them to develop the skills required for both domestic and international job markets.

In his closing remarks, Secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam said the project’s primary objective is to develop AI-skilled youth capable of securing technology-based employment, creating self-employment opportunities, becoming entrepreneurs, and contributing to foreign currency earnings.

It was announced that, in the first phase of the project, 1,600 trainees—25 from each of the country’s 64 districts—have been selected. Training will be conducted in 448 batches, each comprising 25 participants. Every two-month course will include 50 classes totaling 300 hours of instruction.

During the ceremony, laptops were distributed to the eight highest-earning freelancers under the Department of Youth Development’s ongoing freelancing project at the divisional level. In addition, 24 freelancers from different districts of the Rajshahi Division were honored with commemorative awards for their achievements.