The organising committee of the Global Deshi and Opportunities at Ijome Conference. is arranging a two-day conference and job Tair to explore the opportunities for Bangladeshis living abroad and at home, especially recent graduates, to live and work in Bangladesh.

The conference will open on July 4 at BUET auditorium, says a press release.

There is a global demand for the best and brightest Bangladeshis. For these global desliis. career and lifestyle options are available worldwide. Yet. they have a lot to contribute to the development of Bangladesh, in terms of investment, cutting-edge technical know-how, and en-treprenuership. It is a common lament among local companies that the best trained Bangladeshis are lost to companies overseas.

This conference has been organised to explore opportunities for these here, and those returning from overseas, to live and work in Bangladesh. Participants will have direct contact with local companies and professionals who have succeeded here. For returning Bangladeshis, the conference will provide a forum to discuss the gender dimensions of living and working in Bangladesh, the challenges of re-entry, and the opportunity to meet peers to snare common concerns and forge social and business, networks, the press release said.

The conference will include the following themes: Career services workshops on opportunities for en-■trejkeneurs. business prtifes sidnals. development practitioners. careers in science & technology, and vocations in Arts & Culture; Small group discussions on social and business networking in Bangladesh; A workshop exploring (a) gender dimensions of re-entry and (b) general re-entry: A Career Fair, profiling employment opportunities in Bangladesh. The Job Fair is open to recent graduates returning to Bangladesh, and students and graduates of BUET, Business Schools and Science Faculties of local universities.

The organising committee consists ofGemini Wahhaj, Sonia Ahmed and Elora Halim Chowdhury. The organisers believe that a large number of talented Bangladeshis may be motivated to stay or return to contribute to Bangladesh's development, if they have access to information about opportunities at home. In addition to the organising committee, there is a small but dedicated staff and many volunteers working for the conference, the press release added.

The advisors are Mahfuz Anam and Yee Woo Guo.

This conference is being sponsored by Apex Footwear, Bangladesh Tobacco Co.. Bex-imco Chemical Division. Delta Life Insurance. 1PDC, and Rahimafrooz. Collaborating agencies are BUET. The Daily Star, and Teenage Awareness Group (TAG).