DHAKA: The Textile University Bill-2010 will be placed in the 6th session of the ninth parliament scheduled to begin on September 20, aiming to meet demand for skilled manpower in the potential clothing sector.

More than 70,000 foreigners are working in the country’s textile sector and it could easily be turned into local manpower through higher education in textile engineering.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid Friday disclosed the decision while visiting admission test for intakes of the government polytechnic institutes at Dhaka Mahila Polytechnic Institute.

He said, “We will place the bill within the first week of the session and we are hopeful about the approval.”

Nahid said the government is going to upgrade the College of Textile Engineering and Technology to University for rearing skilled manpower.

He also said they would go for implementation within the shortest possible time after the bill is approved.

Subodh Chandra Dhali, PRO to the Education Minister, told Banglanews24.com.bd that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education and the cabinet have already approved the Textile University Bill.

Nahid also said the government is going to establish 25 polytechnic institutes to upgrade the vocational and technical education of the country. Of those, four would be only for the women.

The Education Minister said the government also has a plan for establishing a polytechnic school in every Upazila of the country.

The admission test for the government polytechnic institutes was conducted online, first ever in Bangladesh, as the country goes digital.

Education Minister Nahid lamented that vocational and technical education is being neglected in the country. But the government has given priority to such education for generating skilled manpower.

A total of 33,642 candidates contested 10,240 seats across the country for the second phase. First one was held on July 23.

BDST: 1501 HRS, SEP 03, 2010