State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj has said Bangladesh’s economic progress depends on developing skilled human resources through a combination of language proficiency and technical knowledge.
“Language is not merely a means of communication; it is a vital tool for acquiring skills, exchanging knowledge and promoting social and economic progress,” he said.
He made the remarks as the chief guest at the award-giving ceremony of the fourth International Language League competition at North South University (NSU) in Dhaka.
Bobby Hajjaj stressed that skills development must receive the highest priority to achieve Bangladesh’s goal of becoming a trillion-dollar economy by 2034.
He said language skills help people express their thoughts, improve their social standing and expand professional opportunities. Effective communication is also essential for education, career advancement and professional success, he added.
The state minister emphasised that language education should go beyond examination results and serve as a practical tool for communication and skills development.
Referring to China’s experience, he said enriching scientific and academic terminology in the national language and enabling people to acquire knowledge in that language were important for developing national skills and capabilities.
Bangladesh needs to expand scientific and technological learning in the mother tongue while strengthening proficiency in international languages, he said.
Such efforts would improve the country’s capacity for knowledge exchange, international communication and global trade, he added.
Bobby Hajjaj called for expanding opportunities to acquire technical knowledge, communication skills and proficiency in internationally important languages, including English and Chinese.
He also urged universities to play a more active role in developing young people’s language abilities and broader professional skills.
NSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Abdul Hannan Chowdhury chaired the programme.
NSU Board of Trustees member Benajir Ahmed, the Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh, and teachers and students from various educational institutions were also present.
