"We have 15 crore people who have 30 crore hands. If we can train those hands, there will be no problem. These people are not a curse. Let us turn these hands into strength," he said this while he was speaking at the certificate awarding and job placement ceremony at the BGMEA Institute of Fashion & Technology (BIFT) auditorium in the city.

National University Vice-chancellor Prof Wakil Ahmed and BGMEA President Anwarul Alam Chowdhury were present while BIFT's governing body President Benjir Ahmed presided over the ceremony.

Gen Moeen appreciated the BGMEA initiative to provide jobs to the unemployed youths after giving training at BIFT.

He said members of the Bangladesh Army would continue to send 50 unemployed youths to BIFT every month from poverty-stricken areas in the northern Bangladesh.

The army chief assured BGMEA and BIFT of all-out cooperation.

He noted that 30 years have passed by since garment industries started in 1978. "But why we have to bring people from abroad? We must train our people and we should export those trained people," he said.

General Moeen praised the fashion show, presented by students of the BIFTE before the certificate distribution.

"After watching the fashion show today, I am sure they (students) can present their own creative ideas and fashion designs not only in Bangladesh but also across the world," he observed.

Later, he distributed certificates and appointment letters among the unemployed youths who have successfully completed one-month training on sweater knitting from BIFT Sweater Manufacturing Training Centre.