Organized by Youth for Policy and IID, the two-day "Youth Policy Summit 2024" is being held at the Bangla Academy in Dhaka on Saturday and Sunday.
After the anti-discrimination movement in July that led to a regime change, Bangladesh has entered a transitional phase, with the interim government initiating pre-election reform activities.
The movement, which began as a protest against discriminatory quota systems in government jobs, eventually evolved into a broader call for economic and social reforms.
Youth unemployment remains a pressing issue in Bangladesh.
A lack of alignment between the education system and market demands, jobless economic growth despite increased economic output, and widespread corruption in the economy have exacerbated unemployment rates.
The problem is particularly severe among the highly educated youth.
Even in the private sector, issues such as low wages, long working hours, and job insecurity persist.
Only 30% of private-sector workers have contractual jobs, and a mere 10% receive pension benefits.
Consequently, most young people aspire to government jobs, despite the public sector employing only 5% of the workforce.
This disparity in employment opportunities has fueled economic instability, as reflected in recent protests by rickshaw pullers, garment workers, and students.
Against this backdrop, Youth for Policy and IID have been addressing these challenges over the years by highlighting structural issues such as jobless growth, gender inequality, and the education-skills gap while working to raise awareness among policymakers about potential solutions.
The summit aims to ensure meaningful and spontaneous participation of youth in the pre-election reform activities of the interim government.
To this end, the event facilitates intergenerational dialogues and exchanges among approximately 400 young representatives, policymakers, civil society leaders, and experts from across the country.
It combines dialogues and interactive workshops, emphasizing equal participation from all.
Opening session
Titled "From Movements to a New Future: Building Inclusive Educational and Economic Systems for Youth," the opening session delved into reforms in Bangladesh inspired by the July anti-discrimination movement.
It explored ways to institutionalize the right to equality in education and economic opportunities and discussed practical reforms to establish a more equitable state structure for the younger generation.
The session was moderated by IID Executive Director Syeed Ahamed.
Keynote address
The chief guest, Cultural Affairs Ministry Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, said: "We are all working on various issues, but one thing we lack is unity. Unity is often absent in our culture. However, culture can either divide us or bring us together. It is now crucial to explore how to build reform movements and achieve national unity.
"A revolution is a cultural phenomenon, and its foundation lies in our lives and culture. Religion itself is a part of culture. Talking about religion is part of culture. But why can't we discuss cultural aspects like Shab-e-Barat or Eid," he added.
He further said: "Many say India is controlling our country, which makes us feel hopeless. I feel like a third-class citizen in my own country, and we can no longer accept this. That’s why the July uprising occurred. The anti-discrimination movement was unique. My top priority as an adviser is to ensure long-term impacts."
Insights from speakers
Professor Manzoor Ahmed said: "Education, which could have been a catalyst for development, has become a cause of social inequality. A permanent Education Reform Commission is needed to address these issues."
Dr Fahmida Khatun, Director of CPD, said: "Our economic growth is primarily statistical. While numbers indicate progress, infrastructural and institutional development remains inadequate. The July uprising started with employment inequality, which reflects systemic flaws within our economic structure. We have failed to achieve economic diversification, and the private sector lacks investment, stifling its growth."
Sumaiya Islam, Member of the Women’s Affairs Reform Commission, added: "From 1969 to 2024, women have played active roles in all mass movements. However, they have been denied their rightful power during transitions of authority."
Tony Michael Gomes, Communications Director of CARE Bangladesh, said: "Classrooms provide environments for greater learning, but our youth must learn to use information effectively. Why aren't they making themselves smarter instead of just their phones?"
Nazmul Hasan, Coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Movement, added: "Our fight was for fair quota reforms, not abolishment. We have seen numerous reform commissions, but none dedicated to education. We hope to eliminate faction-based campus politics, muscle power, and black money's dominance."
AKM Zakaria, Associate Editor of Prothom Alo, remarked: "Social media influences our society profoundly, sometimes positively, sometimes negatively. We must ensure freedom of speech online while preventing harm. Media literacy is essential to discern what to believe and what to disregard."