Despite spending a staggering Tk 40 crore under the “Self-Employment Training for Underdeveloped and Poor Communities” project, the Department of Social Services has failed to generate any meaningful impact in terms of employment or income generation for the underprivileged communities it aimed to uplift. A recent evaluation by the Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) of the Ministry of Planning reveals a grim reality of widespread corruption, mismanagement, and inflated success claims.
Lofty Promises, Dismal Outcomes: The project, launched in February 2020, aimed to provide vocational training-primarily in computer literacy, driving, and graphic design-to youths from underdeveloped and impoverished communities across 25 upazilas in Lalmonirhat, Jamalpur, Bhola, and Patuakhali districts. In total, 5,185 individuals were enrolled in the program. The official reports submitted claimed a 100% implementation success rate, both in terms of training completion and financial expenditure.However, IMED’s field-level inspections tell a drastically different story. Out of 2,640 individuals trained in computer skills, only 121 secured employment. Likewise, among the 2,545 trained in driving, a meager 72 individuals found jobs. The remaining trainees, despite completing the program, saw no change in their livelihoods or income.   
Alarming Financial Discrepancy: The project initially projected a financial benefit of Tk 9.62 for every Tk 1 invested, estimating an economic output of Tk 385 crore. In reality, the outcome was shockingly low-with an actual return of only Tk 0.36 per taka. The total realized benefit stood at a mere Tk 10 crore, and even that figure lacks sustainability, according to sources within IMED.
This means the project has resulted in not only a colossal financial loss but also a major setback for future efforts to build trust in government-run vocational programs. Experts point out that such discrepancies are not just administrative failures but represent a systemic issue of accountability in public expenditure.
Ghost Trainees, Fabricated Records: Sources within the IMED said a significant number of so-called trainees either never attended or were never qualified for the program. Instead of targeting school dropouts or economically disadvantaged youths as intended, the program often ended up training school and college-going students or even relatives and acquaintances of officials involved in the project.
In several training centers, attendance was fudged, and in some cases, “ghost trainees” were listed solely to claim allowances and inflate success metrics. More than Tk 80 lakh was reportedly misappropriated by showing inflated trainee numbers.
Poor Infrastructure and Incompetent Trainers: One of the most glaring issues was the substandard quality of the training provided. While the official duration of training was set at 21 days for computer training and 30 days for driving, many participants reported that sessions were condensed into just 10-15 days. Some received only theoretical lessons without any practical exposure-particularly in driving classes, where actual vehicle operation was omitted entirely.
There were also severe shortages of equipment, including functional computers, driving vehicles, and training materials. In some locations, computer labs had only two to three outdated machines for groups of 15 to 20 trainees. Trainers were often hired without proper vetting or subject expertise, resulting in poor knowledge transfer and demotivated participants.
No Support After Training: Post-training support, including assistance in obtaining driver’s licenses or job placement services, was virtually nonexistent. Trainees complained of receiving no help from the project authorities in applying for jobs, internships, or further skills development. Despite repeated appeals, many did not even receive their promised certificates, and in some cases, were asked to pay Tk 100 to get one-an amount many could not afford.
Moreover, notebooks, pens, food, and travel allowances that were promised under the project were either not distributed or partially provided. Some trainees said they had to attend classes without any learning materials or sustenance, and in most cases, the token allowances offered did not cover their travel expenses.
Corruption Runs Deep: The IMED review unearthed 196 audit objections involving suspected financial irregularities in the project. These ranged from embezzlement of funds allocated for trainers’ honorariums and food allowances to falsification of attendance records and burning expenses-a suspicious budget head reportedly used to siphon off money.
Despite being flagged repeatedly, most of these audit objections remain unresolved. Officials involved have failed to provide satisfactory responses or documentation to justify the spending. The NGO partner responsible for field-level implementation, Global Rural Environment Society (GRES), has also come under scrutiny for lack of transparency and accountability in fund management.
Certificates Denied, Money Not Returned: Adding insult to injury, many trainees reported that they were denied certificates at the end of the course. In places where certificates were issued, trainees were often coerced into paying a fee, although the project guidelines clearly stated that such documentation would be provided free of cost.
In most cases, even when certificates were denied or incomplete, no refunds were issued. This has left a significant number of participants not only unqualified for future employment but also frustrated and distrustful of government initiatives.
“Success on Paper” - A Worrying Pattern: The Social Services Department, in its official reports to the Ministry of Social Welfare and donor agencies, claimed 100% completion of the project. It boasted full disbursement of funds, complete execution of training modules, and extensive impact on employment.
Yet, independent assessments, including those by IMED, reveal this to be a “success only on paper” scenario-a disturbing pattern that has increasingly come to characterize public development projects in recent years. In reality, the project’s lofty goals have failed to make any significant impact on the ground.
Experts Call for Accountability and Reform: Dr. Rashida Akhter, a development economist at Dhaka University, told this reporter: “This is not just a failed project-this is a textbook case of state-sponsored wastage. The Tk 40 crore that was spent could have actually empowered thousands, but due to institutional corruption and lack of oversight, it became a feeding ground for dishonest officials.”
She also criticized the Planning Commission and IMED for failing to act proactively during the implementation phase.
“Monitoring shouldn’t only happen at the end. Real-time accountability, third-party evaluation, and direct beneficiary feedback mechanisms should have been in place.”
What Happens Now: Sources within IMED have recommended a deeper probe by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), particularly to investigate fund misappropriation and personnel irregularities. There are also calls for legal action against both government officials and NGO representatives involved in the fraudulent reporting and misuse of public funds.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social Welfare has remained largely silent on the issue, although officials privately admit that the project did not yield the expected results. With the government facing increasing scrutiny over the effectiveness of its poverty alleviation initiatives, this latest scandal raises serious questions about whether development money is truly reaching the intended beneficiaries-or merely enriching a corrupt elite.
The “Self-Employment Training for Underdeveloped and Poor Communities” was designed with noble intentions: to equip marginalized individuals with practical skills for sustainable livelihoods. But the reality has been one of broken promises, manipulated figures, and wasted potential. Unless stringent reforms in vocational training governance and monitoring are undertaken, such projects will continue to drain public resources without delivering real progress. The story of this failed initiative is not just about one flawed project-it is a grim reminder of how institutional corruption and lack of accountability can derail the fight against poverty in Bangladesh.