Vanishing professions, emerging possibilities: How the internet is redrawing rural Bangladesh’s economic map

There was a time when a morning in rural Bangladesh unfolded to familiar rhythms: the village blacksmith hammering iron in a small roadside forge, the weaver's loom clacking in steady cadence, the water carrier moving from house to house, the postal runner crossing muddy fields on foot.

Occupations were inherited, not chosen. The son of a farmer farmed; the child of a weaver wove. Profession was identity, and identity was lineage. That rural landscape is now undergoing a profound transformation. 

And the change is not anecdotal; it is measurable.

In a nationwide study of 1,600 young people who had received technology-based training through government or private initiatives, a striking new pattern emerges. 

Of the respondents, 64.82% were men and 35.18% women, the study by Infratech Consultants shows. Nearly three-quarters, or 74.73%, were between the ages of 25 and 34, the most economically productive segment of the population. These are not abstract statistics; they represent a generation standing at the intersection of tradition and technology.

Before receiving training in internet- and technology-based skills, 70.96% were students, 7.48% were unemployed, and 41.49% had no income at all. Many came from modest rural backgrounds. 

Fathers were typically employed in traditional roles: 40.19% in salaried jobs, 26.26% in small businesses, and 10.53% in agriculture. An overwhelming 94.47% of mothers were homemakers. In other words, the economic foundation of these households was conventional and often fragile.

But tech-based training changed the trajectory.

A significant share of participants specialised in creative digital skills: 42.46% in graphics, video editing and UI/UX design; 28.31% in web development and programming; and 20.96% in digital marketing and SEO. More than three-quarters, or 77.74%, received their training through structured government or private programmes. 

Notably, 62.15% completed their training during 2020–21, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, when much of the world was immobilised. In rural Bangladesh, however, young people were quietly preparing for a digital future.

The economic results are tangible. Today, 27.14% earn between Tk30,000 and Tk50,000 per month; 21.97% earn between Tk20,000 and Tk30,000; 10.66% earn between Tk50,000 and Tk1 lakh; and 2.75% have reached the Tk1-3 lakh bracket. Only 9.05% remain without income. For a country where many rural households survive on narrow margins, this represents a substantial shift in earning capacity.

Perhaps most significantly, geography is no longer destiny. Some 85.06% of respondents work from home, while 91.33% did not need to migrate to another city for employment. And 34.96% report working with foreign clients. This signals the emergence of what might be termed "virtual remittance" — foreign income generated without physical migration.

For decades, remittances from migrant workers have been a pillar of Bangladesh's economy. But traditional remittance required departure — workers leaving villages for Gulf states or Southeast Asia. Now, a different model is taking shape. A young designer in a village in Rajshahi can create branding for a European start-up. A digital marketer in Barishal can manage campaigns for clients in North America. The worker stays; the income flows across borders.

Consider the case of Arif, a young man from an agricultural family in northern Bangladesh. Before his training, he had no income. After completing a digital marketing course in 2020, he began managing online advertising campaigns for international clients. He now earns approximately Tk45,000 per month, contributing to household expenses and helping to repay agricultural debts. His younger sibling has since enrolled in a web development course, inspired by his success.

Or take Meherun, whose mother is a homemaker and father a small trader. After training in graphic design, she began freelancing from her home. She now earns between Tk30,000 and Tk40,000 monthly and works with overseas clients. What began as a cautious experiment has become a source of pride for her family, reflecting the survey's finding that 50.82% of families describe themselves as supportive and proud of their children's digital careers, while 39.71% say they are "very happy".

The impact is not limited to individual households. Some 19.25% of respondents have created job opportunities for others, and 36.39% have provided mentoring. A remarkable 80.81% have encouraged others to pursue similar training. In 22.17% of cases, entire families now depend on the respondent's income. What is unfolding is not merely personal advancement, but the gradual construction of a rural digital economy.

Yet the path forward is not without obstacles. The most frequently cited challenge, reported by 43.62%, is finding clients. A further 33.93% point to skill gaps, while 9.37% highlight internet or device-related problems. Respondents expressed a desire for local-language digital marketplaces (45.63%), easier access to bank loans (31.55%), affordable high-speed internet (24.07%), and advanced training opportunities (18.42%). Their demand is not for charity, but for infrastructure and access.

Internet penetration has already altered rural Bangladesh, but its full potential remains unrealised. With the expansion of fibre-optic networks, improved broadband access and the gradual rollout of higher-speed connectivity, the capacity for remote digital work will only increase. If union-level digital hubs, co-working spaces and technology incubators are established, clusters of rural digital entrepreneurs could flourish.

The global economy, meanwhile, is moving towards artificial intelligence, automation and data-driven services. Training rural youth in AI-assisted design, data analytics, cybersecurity, cloud services, prompt engineering and no-code automation platforms could dramatically enhance their competitiveness.

AI tools do not replace intelligence; they amplify it. A young designer in a village, equipped with AI tools, can produce work comparable to international standards. A farmer's son trained in data analytics could design smart agricultural systems. Intellectual capital is no longer geographically bound.

If policymakers respond strategically by investing in rural broadband, simplifying international payment systems, expanding advanced digital training, and providing accessible credit to digital entrepreneurs, Bangladesh could cultivate a generation of global earners who never leave home. A national policy focus on "digital remittance" could complement traditional labour migration with a knowledge-based export of services.

The study's findings point to a quiet but durable shift. Rural Bangladesh is moving from hereditary occupations to skill-based careers. Migration to Dhaka or abroad for work is no longer the only pathway. A rural digital economy is emerging. Young people are not only earning; they are generating employment for others.

Where once the postal runner carried messages across muddy paths, today a young freelancer sends code, design files and marketing strategies across continents. The setting is the same village; the reach is global. If nurtured carefully, this transformation could redefine Bangladesh's economic story — one where remittance flows from rural homes, and global participation requires no physical departure.

The professions of the past may have faded. But in their place, a new possibility is taking shape — quietly, steadily, and with global ambition.

Suny Md Ashraf Khan is the Vice Chairman of Infratech Consultants Ltd and a former director of BASIS. He can be reached at ashraf@infraconsultants.com  

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard.