Uttoron organised an advocacy event for Bholananda Uttoron Technical Training Center in Sylhet

An advocacy event was organised in Sylhet to inform and gather the opinion of local administration, employers, and dignitaries regarding the Bholananda Uttoron Technical Training Centre (BUTTC) before its official inauguration. BUTTC is a one-of-a-kind initiative funded by Chevron Bangladesh through the Swisscontact Uttoron project in partnership with Sylhet City Corporation. This is the first time in Bangladesh that a city corporation will provide training services to its citizens.

Sylhet City Corporation will operate the training centre through Public-Private Partnership (PPP). Plans to develop the training centre as a one-stop service centre in the future are under process by the City Corporation to work with other government departments, including the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET).

The event was graced by the presence of the Honorable Mayor of Sylhet City Corporation, Mr Ariful Haque Chowdhury. Mr Ariful Haque Chowdhury, Mayor of Sylhet City Corporation, said, “there is a strong tendency among youth from Sylhet to migrate abroad for work. But unfortunately, most of them lack proper skills. Bholananda Uttoron Technical Training Center has been initiated to provide this workforce with skills training for better work opportunities within and abroad”. At the event, he requested the employers to work collaboratively to make BUTTC successful.

Representatives from Pran-RFL group of industries, Square Denim, Pioneer Group, Matador industries, Khadim Ceramics and other private sector employers also attended the event. Ms Ruzina Aktar, Manager of Pran group, said, “we already have more than 300 graduates of the Uttoron project working in our Habiganj factory and their work ethics, and quality is excellent. If BUTTC provides us with a quality workforce, we can employ them all.”

Other distinguished guests who attended the event are Chief Executive Officer of Sylhet City Corporation Bidhayak Roy Chowdhury, Chevron Bangladesh Social Investment and Community Engagement Manager Khandkar Tusharuzzaman as guests of honour, Jalalabad Gas Plant Superintendent, Swisscontact Bangladesh Transition Project Team Leader Nadia Afrin Shams and many others.

Sylhet City Corporation and Uttoron Project signed an agreement in September 2021. Under this agreement, the first and second floors of the Bholananda Night School building, located at the heart of the Sylhet City Chowhatta Point, were designated to establish a modern technical training centre.