Service Provider Recruitment Contract Signing Ceremony Held

State Minister of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Md. Aminul Haq, has called for the inclusion of a dedicated ethics session in the training programs under the EARN Project, noting that a significant erosion of moral values and social norms is being observed in contemporary society, with increasing signs of aggression in the conduct and behavior of young men and women.

He made this call as the Chief Guest at the service provider recruitment contract signing ceremony of the 'Economic Acceleration and Resilience for NEET (EARN) (1st Revised)' project — being implemented by the Department of Youth Development under the Ministry of Youth and Sports with World Bank loan assistance. The ceremony was held on Thursday, 16 July 2026, at 11:30 AM in the conference room of the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Room No. 502, Building No. 07, Bangladesh Secretariat, Dhaka), and was presided over by the Secretary (Routine Duties) of the Ministry, Ms. Amena Begum.

State Minister Md. Aminul Haq stated that ethics education has virtually ceased to exist in any meaningful sense. He emphasized that this project will achieve its full potential only if — alongside its routine activities — it plays a meaningful role in shaping the moral character of the country's young men and women.

The current government's electoral manifesto places the highest priority on employment and economic participation of young men and women. The EARN Project — designed to train and empower 900,000 NEET youth aged 15 to 35 years, 60 percent of whom are young women — stands as one of the foremost initiatives to translate this priority into action. This population — those not in education, employment, or training — is referred to as NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training). The project will also strengthen the capacity of Bangladesh's creative and sports industries, which are considered vital sectors for the country's youth.

According to project sources, the EARN Project is a development initiative financed by a USD 300 million World Bank loan, aimed at ensuring economic inclusion and employment — particularly for rural youth. It is noteworthy that Bangladesh's inactive youth population is nearly double the global average rate, and this figure continues to rise. This inactive youth population is considered a major challenge for Bangladesh's socio-economic development. The EARN Project is the first and only initiative undertaken by the Government of Bangladesh to engage this growing inactive youth population in productive activities and create employment opportunities for them.