Speakers at a roundtable in Dhaka on Wednesday called for a greater role for the media in ensuring meaningful youth participation in Bangladesh’s democratic reform process.
Voices and The Bangladesh Dialogue jointly organized the discussion, titled “Role of Media in Democratic Reform and Decision-Making Processes,” under the “Joining Youth in Effective Engagement in Reform Agendas in Bangladesh (JoYEE)” project.
The discussion focused on how the media can bring young people’s priorities, concerns and recommendations into the policymaking process while promoting participation, accountability and institutional reform.
Referring to the role played by young people in the July 2024 mass uprising, speakers stressed the need for opportunities for them to participate meaningfully in decision-making and the reform process rather than limiting their involvement to consultation or symbolic representation.
The Daily Star Consulting Editor Kamal Ahmed said a vibrant media is essential to a constructive democratic process.
“Young people should continue to raise their demands for reforms and remain vocal in ensuring accountability and responsibility from media institutions and political actors,” he said.
Senior journalist and columnist Sohrab Hassan said the media should play a more active role in bringing young people’s expectations and concerns into broader public discourse.
He said stronger cooperation between young people and the media could help bring their expectations into policymaking and implementation.
Ayesha Kabir, head of the English department at Prothom Alo, said the media can serve as a bridge between young people and the mainstream of democratic reforms.
She stressed the need to present young people’s perspectives objectively and based on evidence while giving greater attention to issues important to the new generation.
In his closing remarks, Voices Executive Director Ahmed Swapan Mahmud said youth participation should not be limited to consultation or symbolic representation.
He said institutional mechanisms were needed to enable young people to influence decision-making, ensure accountability within institutions and play a meaningful role in the reform process.
Editors, sub-editors and young representatives from different media outlets attended the discussion.
Speakers also called for greater participation of women and Indigenous journalists in administrative roles within media organizations, alongside stronger accountability in implementing reforms.