Young people need a stronger role in decision-making, governance and democratic reforms, speakers said at a policy brief dissemination event in Dhaka on Thursday, calling for institutional mechanisms to ensure their meaningful participation.
They also stressed the need to incorporate youth perspectives into policymaking, ensure the representation of marginalized groups and strengthen accountability in implementing reforms.
VOICE and The Bangladesh Dialogue (TBD) jointly organized the event under the initiative “JoYEE – Joining Youth in Effective Engagement in Reform Agendas in Bangladesh.” The policy brief was prepared based on young people's opinions, recommendations and lived experiences.
At the beginning of the discussion, Musharrat Mahera, deputy director of VOICE, presented the key findings and recommendations of the policy brief.
The findings highlighted young people's limited influence in decision-making, inadequate representation of Indigenous and marginalized youth, weak follow-up on commitments, and barriers to employment and civic participation.
The policy brief recommended institutionalizing youth participation, ensuring inclusive representation, tracking reform commitments and expanding employment opportunities.
Moderated by senior journalist and columnist Sohrab Hasan, the discussion focused on priority actions and future engagement with lawmakers and policymakers.
Dr Shaikh Mohammad Jobayed Hossain, joint secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, said that although around 2.2 million young people complete their education every year, only about 1 million are able to enter employment.
He said the government had undertaken several projects to enhance the skills of marginalized youth and create employment opportunities.
He added that the draft National Youth Policy 2026 would be finalized and issued soon to make youth engagement more dynamic and responsive to current needs.
Mahbubur Rahman, joint secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, said a plan had been undertaken to promote youth employment and skills development.
An Employment Exchange Centre is scheduled to be inaugurated by December, enabling young people to find job opportunities suited to their skills, he said.
Speaking at the event, Member of Parliament Mansura Akter said public representatives acted as a bridge between the people and the government.
She stressed that everyone must work together to build the Bangladesh of the future, avoiding debates that divide people. She also said the current government was committed to working together with young people.
The event was attended by youth representatives, political leaders from both government and opposition parties, human rights activists, media professionals and civil society representatives.
Participants emphasized the need to ensure the representation of women, Indigenous and marginalized youth while strengthening accountability in reform implementation.
They also pledged to work hand in hand with young people to build a democratic Bangladesh.