Jobs emerge as top voter concern ahead of polls

Employment remains one of the foremost concerns for people in Bangladesh, with rising expectations that political parties will present clear and actionable plans ahead of the upcoming national election.

The issue was discussed at a dialogue jointly organised by Democracy International and The Business Standard in Dhaka yesterday, according to a press release.

Policymakers, political party representatives, business leaders and labour experts exchanged views on employment challenges and policy responses.

A November 2025 Democracy International poll found 40.4 percent of respondents felt that there was no improvement over the past year, citing reduced income (27.4 percent) and rising commodity prices (17 percent) as key reasons. The survey also showed 37.2 percent believed political parties overlook youth concerns.

Catherine Cecil, chief of party for Democracy International in Bangladesh, said employment has long remained a top priority for Bangladeshis, particularly young people.

Fahim Mashroor, founder of Bdjobs, said Bangladesh’s unemployment challenge should be seen in a global context but warned that unemployment among the educated has sharply increased from 4.9 percent in 2010 to 12 percent in 2022, while unemployment among the uneducated has declined.

Dilruba S Khan, group HR director at AkijBashir Group, highlighted a labour market disconnect: industries report shortages while jobseekers cite lack of opportunities. She stressed the need for skill-based education, curriculum reform, and productivity enhancement.

Marina Sultana of the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit said 1.1-1.2 million young people migrate abroad annually, many returning due to skill mismatches and limited opportunities. She called for market-oriented training and better regulation of recruitment agencies.

Mohammad Hatem, president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, warned that factories face closures due to policy and banking challenges, urging reforms to protect jobs.

Political representatives also shared plans.

Saiyed Abdullah, a policy team member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), emphasised skill development, IT sector growth and youth loans.

Hafizur Rahman, a member of the National Election Management Committee of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, prioritised large-scale skill training, youth loans and tax reforms.

Ariful Islam Adeeb, senior joint convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), highlighted merit-based recruitment and employment in agriculture and IT.

Taslima Akter, a member of the political council of Ganosamhati Andolon, focused on mitigating job losses from factory closures.

Tania Wahab, managing partner of Karigar, urged measures to reduce harassment and insecurity for entrepreneurs and recommended region-specific development plans to boost local employment.

Shakhawat Liton, executive editor of The Business Standard, moderated the dialogue.

Aminul Ehsan, deputy chief of party for Democracy International, among others, was also present.