The Mirpur Agricultural Workshop and Training School celebrated its 50th anniversary. Since it was founded, it has offered opportunities to more than 48,000 young people. “We provide quality technical education to needy and marginalized people, operating in accordance with the values of Jesus Christ,” said Archbishop Bejoy N. D'Cruze of Dhaka.

The Mirpur Agricultural Workshop and Training School (MAWTS), a foundation of Caritas Bangladesh has celebrated its 50th anniversary at its campus in Pallabi, Mirpur (Dhaka). More than 3,000 current and past students were present, many expressing their gratitude.

The school began in 1973 thanks to the cooperation between Caritas Bangladesh and Caritas Switzerland. Initially, the focus was on maintaining and repairing machinery and vehicles used in relief and rehabilitation projects by Caritas itself.

Since the 1980s, MAWTS has organized modular courses of 4 to 14 weeks, responding to requests from various NGOs and the private sector.

Since it was created, it has successfully trained more than 48,000 unemployed or unskilled young people, who are now employed, many working around the world.

MAWTS has also established a skill test examination system for expatriate technicians. To further promote technical education, MAWTS also introduced a four-year diploma course in 2004 in engineering, which was approved by the Bangladesh Technical Education Board (BTEB).

Some 1,745 trainees have completed their diploma course and are actively engaged in their respective professions, while many pursue higher studies both at home and abroad.

Numerous authorities attended the celebrations for the 50th anniversary, including the Honorable Speaker of the National Parliament Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury; Dr. Atiur Rahman, professor emeritus and former governor of the Bank of Bangladesh; Archbishop Bejoy N. D'Cruze of Dhaka, Archbishop Emeritus Card Patrick D'Rozario; and Bishop James Romen Boiragi of Khulna, who also chairs Caritas Bangladesh.

"I belong to a very poor family. Even though we didn't have land, MAWTS gave me the opportunity to attend for free,” said Halwer Hossen, a former student who trained in mechanical technology.

“After receiving a technical education, I now work at Unilever Bangladesh Limited and that has changed my life," he added. “Thanks to quality education, I can now live in society with dignity."

Mossraf Hossen, another Muslim, also told AsiaNews how MAWTS changed his life. "I came from a very simple family; I trained in motor vehicles. Now I work as an inspector at the road division of the Ministry of Transport."

Archbishop Bejoy N. D'Cruze of Dhaka, who also chairs the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Bangladesh, said he was happy for the celebration of MAWTS’s anniversary.

“Male and female students can study at this technical school,” he explained. “This makes me happy. We provide quality technical education to needy and marginalized people, operating in accordance with the values of Jesus Christ who taught us to feed the hungry.”