Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam spoke at Madhupur Upazila Parishad auditorium in Tangail. Photo : BSS

TANGAIL, Sept 5, 2026 (BSS) - Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam today said the government is working to improve the living standards of ethnic minority communities and expand access to education and create self-employment for them.

Mahbub Anam, also the Science and Technology Minister, said this as chief guest while distributing stipends, bicycles and sewing machines among students and members of ethnic minority communities at the Madhupur Upazila Parishad auditorium in the district this afternoon.

The minister said such government support is playing an important role in improving the living standards of ethnic minority communities, expanding educational opportunities and creating self-employment for them.

"Alongside encouraging students in their educational activities, the distribution of bicycles and sewing machines will bring positive changes to the daily lives and economic activities of the beneficiaries," he said.

Stressing the need for young people to learn English, Chinese and Japanese alongside Bangla, Mahbub Anam said, "There is a huge demand for workers from ethnic minority communities in Japan and China. Cultural centres will be established to help them learn these languages and further promote cultural practices."

He said an AI and freelancing training centre would be established within a few months so that people in Madhupur could become economically productive and earn foreign currency.

Declaring a zero-tolerance policy against drugs, the minister said the local administration must take strict measures to eliminate drug abuse.

Noting that the guardians are not in a good situation because of the spread of drugs, he said wherever drug dealers and drug users are found, they should be arrested and given one to two years' imprisonment.

Mahbub Anam said the present government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has taken various initiatives to bring young people back from drug abuse and is encouraging their participation in sports and cultural activities.

He said the government has also arranged AI and freelancing training across the country to make young people employment-oriented.

Madhupur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Saiful Islam presided over the programe while Academic Supervisor Mohiuddin Ahmed moderated it.
 
Madhupur upazila BNP President Zakir Hossain Sarker, Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation Chairman Shamsuzzaman Suruj and upazila BNP General Secretary Nasir Uddin spoke at the event, among others.