Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh organized "Youth Conference 2023" on Saturday, addressing the decreasing participation of youth in the nation’s economic, social, and political arena.
The conference took place in the capital’s Krishibid Institution Bangladesh.
The term "segregated youth" emerged from the conference, underlining that inclusive development is not possible without engaging this demographic.
The discussion at the conference unveiled 14 needs and expectations expressed by the country’s youth.
Demands from the youth ranged from introducing a registration system for unemployed youth employment, providing a youth unemployment allowance, and allocating low-interest loans for young entrepreneurs, to establishing a quota for underprivileged youth in private universities.
A comprehensive youth survey recently conducted by Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh aimed to better understand the thoughts and sentiments of marginalized youth, amplifying their voices, perspectives, and needs on a national level.
Survey results indicated that while 89.4% of youth participants are registered voters, 53.8% have never voted in a national election. In local elections, this figure stands at 46%.
Just 11.6% expressed an interest in politics or student politics, with non-interested participants tripling to 35.2%.
Approximately 18.7% of participating youth would choose to move abroad permanently given the opportunity, a sentiment more prevalent among the highly educated.
An additional 16.9% wish to go abroad temporarily for work or study.
Meanwhile, 35.4% feel that youth are ready to assume the nation’s leadership and responsibility in future.
In a discussion directed by Debapriya Bhattacharya on "Why is today's youth not enthusiastic about mainstream politics?", answers to numerous youth queries were sought.
The event saw participation from various political and non-political individuals.
Jessore-3 MP Kazi Nabil Ahmed highlighted the significance of youth, saying: "Our youth brought us freedom and have been leading movements like road safety and Shahbag. The 14 points raised are certainly pivotal and fitting. We will raise these issues as they are crucial for our way forward."
University of Chittagong Associate Professor of the Department of Anthropology Moshreka Aditi Huq labelled politics as violent.
"This violent politics cannot sustain the hopes and aspirations of our common students and youth. We aspire to amass wealth quickly, hence we engage in politics. We are going through anarchic politics,” she said.
Furthermore, the voting rights of the youth should be ensured, she added.
BNP’s Organizing Secretary and Member of the party’s Foreign Relations Committee Shama Obaid called Bangladesh a victim of bureaucracy.
“The youth of today have different wants and needs. Today's survey prioritizes freedom of expression and job security as the most important issues. When youth want to serve the country, their political affiliations are questioned. We are victims of bureaucracy," she said.
Tangail-6 lawmaker Ahasanul Islam Titu said: "Our country now embraces digital classrooms. However, numerous digital crimes are taking place as well. Everyone has a right to free speech, yet the Digital Security Act is also necessary. Both aspects are not mutually exclusive. Employment for our youth will be a key priority in our election manifesto.”
Jatiya Party Central Executive Committee Vice-Chairman MP Ahsan Adelur Rahman said that youth should exhibit interest in politics.
“Our education system and labour market are misaligned. The number of educated unemployed individuals is high in our country right now. We need to manage our finances correctly. We also need to enhance our youth's interest in agriculture," he said.
Professor Mustafizur Rahman, distinguished fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and core group member at the Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh, said: “We seek an inclusive Bangladesh and that is the duty of the country's youth.”
He invited the youth to step into politics and become conscious citizens.
