The Department of Youth Development is expanding free basic artificial intelligence training to all 64 districts of Bangladesh, creating a nationwide opportunity for young people to build practical technology skills. The two-month programme is open to men and women aged 18 to 35 who have completed at least higher secondary education and already possess basic computer and ICT knowledge. Participants will receive the training without tuition fees, along with a daily travel allowance of Tk200 and food during the course. Successful trainees will also receive certificates. The programme is designed as a full-time learning experience, with six hours of training each day. By taking the programme beyond Dhaka and major technology centres, the initiative can help make AI education more accessible to young people in district towns and less-connected areas. That is important because new technology opportunities often reach urban users first, while talented people in smaller cities may struggle to find structured training. Artificial intelligence is becoming relevant across many fields, including software, digital marketing, data work, design, agriculture, finance, education and customer service. Basic training cannot make someone an expert immediately, but it can give learners a clearer understanding of how AI tools work and how they can be used responsibly in study, work and entrepreneurship. The programme also gives priority to applicants with English proficiency and basic technology skills, which reflects the practical demands of many digital jobs and online learning resources. For Bangladesh, developing AI literacy at scale can strengthen the wider ICT workforce and prepare more young people for changes in the labour market. It can also support freelancers, small businesses and students who increasingly use AI tools for productivity, research and creative work. The value of the programme will depend on the quality of instructors, the relevance of course content and whether learners receive enough hands-on practice. Strong training should focus not only on using popular tools but also on problem solving, digital safety, ethical use and real work examples. If implemented well across all districts, the initiative can reduce geographic gaps in access to emerging technology skills and help more young Bangladeshis move from basic digital literacy toward useful AI capability for employment, freelancing and self-employment.
