National Skills Development Authority (NSDA) Executive Chairman Rehana Parveen said on Sunday said the government wanted to integrate logistics sector workers into dignified employment through competency-based training and certification.
“A sustainable ISC will accelerate the development of a robust skills ecosystem,” she said a stakeholder consultation with representatives of the logistics sector on “Skills Development, Industry Linkage and Employment through Industry Skills Council (ISC)” in the capital.
She also called for industry cooperation in apprentice placements and suggested mobilizing CSR funds to strengthen ISC activities, as seen in other countries.
As part of NSDA’s initiative to engage with 16 industry skills councils, the consultation aimed to align training, curriculum, and assessment frameworks with the growing demand in the logistics sector, while ensuring better industry linkage and creating decent employment opportunities for skilled manpower.
The consultation was presided over by NSDA Member (Planning and Standards) and Joint Secretary Mina Masud Uzzaman, while NSDA Executive Chairman (Secretary) Rehana Parveen attended as chief guest. Logistics Sector ISC Chairman and Nitol-Niloy Group Chairman Abdul Matlub Ahmad, and ISC Secretary General and AHS Venture Ltd Chairman Group Captain (retd) Md Abul Hossain were present as special guests.
Participants highlighted the urgent need to improve skills and capacity of the country’s logistics workforce, stressing that formal training and certification could significantly enhance foreign exchange earnings. They also underscored the importance of sustaining and strengthening ISCs to ensure an inclusive and internationally recognized skills ecosystem.
Abdul Matlub Ahmad noted that 70–80 percent of the workforce in logistics remains unskilled, adding that if trained properly, the sector could contribute an additional $100 billion to foreign trade.
He expressed his readiness to collaborate with NSDA, including creating internship opportunities for certified trainees.
Industry representatives emphasized that the logistics sector requires diverse and specialized skills, pointing out that Bangladesh lags behind its regional peers. They recommended focusing on sub-skills in supply chain management and incorporating Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies into training.
The consultation was attended by senior NSDA officials, representatives from the Logistics Sector ISC, and both public and private sector stakeholders.