Tech job fair: 45 differently-abled people get job on spot

Some 600 differently-abled persons today attended the sixth edition of ‘Person with Disabilities Job Fair-2020’ where 45 of them got instant appointments in different ICT companies.

In the fair, another 445 differently-abled people were also shortlisted and a good number of them will get employment gradually from this list, said top brass of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) that organised the event.

The event was organised at NGO Affairs Bureau where 600 differently-abled persons across the country took part, though 500 had registered for the event.

BCC, under the ICT Division, is organising the event on a regular basis since 2015.

A total of 37 companies took part in the fair this year. Some of the stalls displayed software and hardware tools developed by differently-abled people.

A good number of aspirants were given appointment letter on the spot following instant interview.

Genex Infosys, a renowned business process outsourcing company of the country, collected curriculum vita of job aspirants in the fair and called them to sit for interview.

Prince Mojumder, co-founder and chief executive officer of the organization, said they have shortlisted about 120 candidates and will hire a good number from them.

“As we are running call centres, employing differently-abled people is suitable for our work and that’s why from 2013 we are hiring them with priority,” said Mojumder.

Kazi IT, a renowned ICT company in the country, has attended the fair for the first time and are very excited to get the quality of the differently-abled people.

“We found a huge number of curriculum vita. Of those, we have prepared a shortlist and started calling for interviews. We have found a good number of skilled candidates who can add value to our company,” said Mike Kazi, founder and CEO of the company.

Kazi IT attended the fair this year and is hiring differently-abled people as their social responsibility, Kazi said.

Like previous years, Bangladesh Association of Call Centre and Outsourcing (BACCO), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industries (FBCCI) and Cyber Cafe Owners Association of Bangladesh (CCOAB) attended the event.

Earlier in the morning, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, state minister for ICT, inaugurated the daylong event.

ICT could be a tool to remove discrimination faced by differently-abled persons in the society, said Palak.

“2020 will be a great year for the differently-abled people as we are going to provide skill development training aiming to make them fit in job sector,” Palak said.

The government is trying to bring differently-abled people to the mainstream workforce and thus the ICT Division is providing training to them to enrich their skills, the junior minister also added.

ICT Division Secretary NM Zeaul Alam, Director General of the NGO Affairs Bureau KM Abdus Salam and Executive Director of BCC Parthapratim Deb also spoke at the event among others in the inaugural session.

Mentionable, around 439 alternatively abled persons got job from the fair in between 2015 and 2019.