Thousands of job seekers gathered at a job fair in Tangail on Tuesday, hoping to secure employment, as more than 6,000 people registered for the event.
The day-long fair, organized by the district administration, was held at Janaseba Chattar with participation from leading NGOs, business organizations and corporate institutions.
District Administrator Sharifa Haque and Tangail Superintendent of Police Mohammad Shamsul Alam Sarkar inaugurated the fair in the morning by cutting a ribbon and releasing balloons.
Job seekers began arriving at the venue early in the morning and queued up at different company stalls to submit their CVs. Candidates also had the opportunity to sit for interviews, with some reportedly receiving job offers on the spot based on their qualifications.
The fair was open to candidates ranging from SSC graduates to master's degree holders. Those who had exceeded the age limit for government jobs were also eligible to participate. Special employment opportunities were available for people with physical disabilities.
A large number of women were among the participants, while registration facilities were available both online and at the venue.
Job seekers said the fair provided them with an opportunity to explore employment options and learn about different organizations under one roof.
“I have applied for jobs at several organizations. The initiative is very good. I have learned about new opportunities here and hope it will motivate us to improve ourselves and build our careers,” said one job seeker.
Imran Hasan, another participant, said he had previously attended a job fair at his college.
“I have submitted my CVs to several organizations here as well. There are a lot of people attending, and I hope to get a job with one of them,” he said.
Officials of participating organizations said they were collecting CVs and would shortlist candidates after reviewing their qualifications before making appointments.
Speaking at the event, SP Mohammad Shamsul Alam Sarkar praised the initiative, saying such programmes could help address unemployment and related social problems among young people.
He said unemployment and frustration among youths could make them vulnerable to drug abuse and other social problems. Initiatives aimed at creating employment opportunities could also contribute to efforts to combat drug abuse, he added.
The district police would provide all-out cooperation to such initiatives, the SP said.
District Administrator Sharifa Haque said job seekers had frequently visited her office seeking employment opportunities since she took charge.
“We had been thinking for a long time about creating a platform where job seekers could find employment opportunities with several organizations at the same time. That is why we organized this job fair,” she said.
She expressed hope that 500-600 job seekers would secure employment through the fair.
The district administration plans to organize similar job fairs every year.