The formation of a prosperous society and the practice of successful democracy depends on the active participation of conscious citizens. Today's youth are the active citizens of tomorrow, our future politicians. We need it to be one of the priorities of the nation to build a politically educated and rights-conscious young generation.
Civic education (also known as citizen education or democracy education) is intrinsic for a nation to move forward because it allows people to understand the real political environment and participate effectively in democratic processes. To make Bangladesh a developed and prosperous country by 2041, we need to take initiative to educate our young generation in real civic education along with their conventional education from now on.
It is our civic duty to be aware of the things that play a significant role in the everyday life of the people as well as the national and international issues that affect them, and above all to participate in civic processes.
Responsible civic opinion and participation in issues related to the interests of the population create an environment in which the concerns connected to them are addressed, and the government takes initiative to solve the problems of these citizens.
Citizens of developed and prosperous countries are keenly aware of their rights and responsibilities in relation to the state. Therefore, we need to create a conducive environment for the young generation to learn about civil rights from an early age.
The state must acquire the ability to reasonably claim all the civic services and facilities for which we are committed. The young generation need to know about the role of government institutions and parliament, especially the constitution. The young generation must realize from their childhood that the constitution is an essential social contract between the citizen and the state.
The constitution of Bangladesh enacted in 1972 has called for the formation of a society free from discrimination, religion, caste, and gender discrimination. In addition, equality of employment opportunities for the people has been secured. There are also provisions on establishing reserved seats for women in representation and ensuring equal opportunities for direct elections.
The citizens of Bangladesh expect the assurance of transparency and accountability from the executive branch; the parliament also should be seen as independent and effective. The establishment of an independent, impartial, and effective election commission for credible elections is also vital.
Active citizenship is important in meeting the expectations of citizens. Active citizens monitor state-private sector activities and follow up on the promises of political leaders.
The reality is that most of our citizens are unaware of their rights and obligations. To counter this, young people can take the initiative to provide digital information through various means to inform people of all walks of life about the allocation and availability of services for certain classes of citizens.
Public-private engagement and support can create effective communication between grassroots and national level service providers and service recipients. The people own the country, and the right to vote is the most precious -- not just political, but also human -- right.
A rights-conscious young generation can motivate the overall electorate so that the people can realize the importance of this precious right, and exercise it knowingly.
According to the UNFPA 2014 report, 30% of the total population of Bangladesh is young (10-24 years old), and by 2050 this amount will constitute 10-19%. In the years to come, this young generation will emerge as a significant force for political, socio-economic, and cultural change in Bangladesh.
If Bangladesh wants to have the benefits of demographic or population dividends, then it is necessary to increase investment in the youth so that they can develop into well-educated, skilled, and rights-conscious citizens.
IRI believes that if the young generation educated in social studies can be developed through public-private initiatives, they will be able to select effective people's representatives, protest injustice, and build resistance.
IRI recently exchanged views with a group of young people in Comilla, Rangamati, and Sylhet on the importance of civic education intending to build a rights-conscious young generation. At the end of the exchange of opinions, a young man from Comilla said: “As a citizen, I feel my responsibility towards society. I need to know the details of the rights of the citizens.”
A young man from Rangamati also realized that as a responsible young generation, he along with his friends must do the job of keeping his university campus clean and organized. A young man from Rangpur additionally embraced the urge to start from home to take initiative to build social harmony.
A young man from Jessore, furthermore, felt the need to meet with the local administration to find ways to protect women, children, and minorities. Finally, a young man from Sylhet realized that we are not treating our minority population fairly, especially those from different tribes. He became concerned about the problems of the indigenous people living in Sylhet.
Above all, if an intellectual and rights-conscious young generation can be formed in civic education, the youth will be able to build our political system for the welfare of the people and deliver true leadership to build Bangladesh as the developed and prosperous country we are all longing and striving for.
Saif Ahmed is Governance Specialist, International Republican Institute (IRI) Bangladesh. Email: sahmed@iri.org.