According to the Population and Housing Census of 2022, 26.8% of the population of Bangladesh is between the ages of 15 and 29 years (“youth”), totaling more than 45 million people. However, Bangladesh currently lacks a dedicated Youth Ministry to address the needs of this growing demographic.
Youth-related issues are grouped under the Youth and Sports Ministry, which includes five directorates. Three specifically focus on sports, while two are dedicated to youth: The Youth Development Board and the Sheikh Hasina National Youth Centre. One could confidently presume that there is limited scope for any form of political discourse for the youth, especially in the latter directorate.
Additionally, the quota reform movement underscores the critical importance of student voices in shaping the country's present and future.
One might question whether proactive steps from the government, such as initiating dialogue through a dedicated youth ministry or a proactive Youth Development Board with a National Youth Council, could have resulted in a different outcome to the protests. Instead, the authorities brought a bazooka to a fist fight -- opting for an extreme response in what should have been a reasoned engagement with the youth -- leading to the tragic events we witnessed over the past two months.
In the wake of the removal of the Awami League government, the interim government must harness this renewed energy and convert it into lasting institutional change by establishing a democratic framework that nurtures youth political activism.
Why establish a Youth Parliament?
The main aim of a Youth Parliament is to provide a platform for young people to learn about and actively participate in the parliamentary process, while also developing broader professional and social skills that will enable them to contribute to their community.
The overarching goals of a Youth Parliament can be broken down into the following:
- Strengthening civic knowledge:
There is a crucial need for understanding, learning, and strengthening civil knowledge to successfully regroup and rebuild the democratic institutions of the state for future generations. By familiarizing participants with a parliament's structure, functions, and procedures, participation in a Youth Parliament will serve as a hands-on education in democratic governance. Through their participation, the youth can gain first-hand experience of parliamentary proceedings, including debates, voting, policy formulation, and the principles of democratic decision-making.
- Embedding democratic engagement:
At a time when youth turnout in democratic activities is at an all-time high, the Youth Parliament can prepare and encourage young people to continue engaging as they transition into adulthood. Providing a Youth Parliament program will also send a broader message that involving the young people in our democracies is vital for representation.
- Providing members with youth insight:
When a Youth Parliament involves members from the jurisdiction’s legislature, it can provide those members with valuable insights into the needs, concerns, and perspectives of young people in their region. One of the major issues that led to the brutal and violent crackdown by the previous government during the student protests was its disconnection from the pulse of the people, especially the youth. This, in turn, created a wider gap between the “elected” representatives and the youth of Bangladesh.
Therefore, it is vital to create a healthy platform where, just as the Youth Parliament provides knowledge and skill-building for young participants, they can also provide insight to parliamentarians.
One of the major issues that led to the brutal and violent crackdown by the previous government during the student protests was its disconnection from the pulse of the people, especially the youth
- Developing leadership and advocacy skills:
In an effort to break down the barriers faced by youth in becoming involved and engaged in policy-making and future leadership roles, while also dismantling the monopoly of nepotism and dynastic politics, the Bangladesh Youth Parliament can serve as a training ground for aspiring young leaders.
The Youth Parliament could implement programs that equip participants with essential skills such as public speaking, critical thinking, research, negotiation, and teamwork. In a parliamentary environment, participants can learn to communicate their ideas effectively, engage in constructive debates, and collaborate with their peers to find common ground on issues relevant to our society and community.
- Creating a policy and merit-based approach to politics by building social cohesion and understanding:
In Bangladesh, particularly over the past two decades, freedom of expression for political rivals and opposition parties has been severely curtailed, often met with shutdowns and violent reactions from state forces. It is therefore essential to embed the idea of political discourse, the dissemination of political views, and policy-based decision-making among both policymakers and the general public to create a healthy, effective political environment -- especially for the youth.
By working together toward common goals, participants in a Youth Parliament can learn to appreciate and respect differences, fostering productive and positive approaches to debate and discussion, even when views or perspectives differ.
Core ethos
The composition of a Youth Parliament plays a key role in shaping the dynamics between participants and the activities offered in the program. The following core ethos must be considered to ensure that the membership body aligns with the goals and ambitions of the Youth Parliament in Bangladesh:
- Equal opportunities:
The core ethos in forming the Youth Parliament must be to ensure participation from a diverse and inclusive membership, representing a wide range of perspectives and voices. The Youth Parliament should reflect the diversity of the local jurisdiction.
Inclusivity should be prioritized throughout the program's establishment, starting from the membership selection process. This process should consider and embrace the diversity of participants' backgrounds, including (but not limited to) ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, age, sexual orientation, geographic location, disability, and religion.
- Party neutrality:
The Bangladesh Youth Parliament must remain a party-neutral organization. Any endorsement, funding, or public acknowledgment of existing political parties within Bangladesh must be strictly prohibited and enforced. This will ensure that young people engage purely from a policy-based perspective, without being influenced by any existing dynastic, nepotistic political establishments or youth wings of political parties. This approach is crucial to avoid alienating youth from decision-makers in local governments, the Bangladesh Parliament, or other governmental bodies.
- Gender balance considerations:
The Youth Parliament of Bangladesh should strive to achieve gender balance among its participants. Gender balance can be achieved by adopting quotas similar to those in the national parliament to ensure fair representation of all genders, creating a more inclusive and representative environment for all participants.
The establishment of a Youth Parliament should incorporate the social, political, and organizational elements within the political system of Bangladesh. It could ensure that the Members of the Youth Parliament (MYPs) effectively mirror the national parliamentary system, training future leaders from a young age of the rules, regulations, and nuances of democratic governance. Many countries have adopted youth parliamentary systems, each varying in structure depending on their internal socio-political circumstances and effectiveness.
Below are brief case studies of impactful youth parliaments within the region and beyond:
Sri Lanka’s youth parliament:
Elections and selections combine to form the Sri Lanka National Youth Parliament, established under the supervision of the Ministry of Youth Affairs of the Government of Sri Lanka (as you can see, Sri Lanka, unlike our country, has an entire ministry dedicated to the Youth). The National Youth Service Council of Sri Lanka provides facilities and a platform for young politicians and leaders of the youth community by empowering the youth (aged 18-29) with a political voice through democratic means.
The youth parliament has 225 members, with 165 elected through a nationwide democratic election campaign. The election process involves voting by members of youth clubs, with candidates representing youth clubs in their respective districts. An additional 65 members are selected through a highly competitive interview process, based on their academic, leadership, and extracurricular qualifications.
Malaysian youth parliament:
The Parlimen Belia Malaysia has around 120 elected members, with its format resembling the Dewan Rakyat, the lower house of Parliament in Malaysia. Any Malaysian citizen aged between 16-30 can register online through the youth parliament website and vote for candidates running from their local districts, with seats proportionally distributed according to population. Once elected, participants are assigned to different committees, each focusing on a specific topic, this approach promotes cultural diversity within committees and encourages social interaction and networking among participants.
The committees debate their assigned topics extensively, drafting non-binding resolutions that outline the key issues and propose solutions. Afterward, lobbying takes place, allowing delegates to debate and propose amendments for other resolutions. The session concludes with a general assembly, where resolutions and amendments are further debated and voted on by all MYPs. The top-ranked resolutions are forwarded to the Attorney General’s Chambers, the Cabinet of Malaysia, and the Parliament of Malaysia.
UK Youth Parliament:
Formed in 2000, the UK Youth Parliament consists of 369 members, elected to represent the views of youth in their area. The elections for the UK Youth Parliament are held every one or two years (depending on the local authority). There are 391 constituencies where MYPs can serve. The ages of eligible voters and candidates are between 11 to 18 and the selection criteria for prospective candidates require the candidate to either live, study, volunteer, or work within that constituency for at least 14 hours a week. The MYPs work with MPs, service providers, and decision-makers, presenting the views of their constituents.
Comparing models
We can compare and contrast the electoral processes used by youth parliaments in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and the UK. In Sri Lanka, voting is conducted through local youth clubs, whereas in Malaysia and the UK, a more direct approach resembling the representative democracy model is employed. Youth members can stand for election in their respective constituencies, with seats allocated based on the youth population in the area.
The age limits vary across different youth parliaments. In the UK, the age range is 11-18 years, which has its advantages in fostering leadership skills early on but presents challenges due to developmental variability. The broad age range means participants are at different stages of adolescence, making it harder to ensure an equal playing field.
Addressing the varying needs and interests of participants across this age range will require tailored approaches and possibly additional support for younger participants. The Malaysian youth parliament and the Sri Lankan youth parliament, in contrast, have age limits of 16-30 and 18-29, respectively. Malaysia enforces this age limit during the online registration process, while Sri Lanka relies on youth clubs to ensure the appropriate age range.
From a fresh Bangladeshi perspective, the interim government can form a steering committee to base it on the socio-political dynamics of the country. However, there are potential outlines to be considered as a suggestion for the Youth Parliament of Bangladesh.
Prospective structure
Due to the quota reform movement and the subsequent revolution, there is a significant surge in political activism and a sense of democratic responsibility among students from educational institutions across Bangladesh. The students are already organized due to the quota reform protest, however, there is no structured way to address their concerns and demands to the interim government except for protesting on the streets.
As such, the steering committee may consider creating constituencies based on the student population in each district, comprising students aged 16-35. This would include students who have completed O’Levels, HSC, as well as university undergraduates and postgraduates up to the age of 35.
Seats should be allocated according to the student population in each constituency. This system could mirror that of Sri Lanka and Malaysia, with a broadened age limit to accommodate the developmental variations and encompass a wider spectrum of youth involvement in Bangladesh.
The setup of the constituencies and the enforcement of a free and fair election could be overseen by an Election Commission in coordination with the Youth Ministry. Any member of an educational institution may be nominated to run for election in their constituencies. Voters may register online by using their NID Card and relevant school/university ID from their constituency.
Once elected, the MYPs will vote among themselves when the parliament is in session to elect a prime minister to represent the Youth Parliament. The prime minister would serve as a special adviser to the prime minister/chief adviser’s office and lead a cabinet of Youth ministers. Shadow ministers within the Youth Parliament will be elected by the Youth Parliament members themselves.
For instance, a member who wishes to champion a policy such as environmental concerns in Bangladesh may propose a resolution, debate it, and be elected as a shadow Environment Minister, serving as a Youth Adviser within the Environmental Ministry's cabinet.
Parliamentary sessions will address ongoing policy matters, with topics and draft bills passed by the MYPs, who will then provide advice to the relevant government ministries. Each relevant parliamentary ministry may also include a youth parliament representative on its team.
Additionally, MYPs must adhere to a set of rules and regulations, mirroring those of adult parliamentary members and advisers, and follow a code of conduct enforced by the Youth Ministry.
The Bangladesh Youth Parliament may adopt a code of conduct similar to the one used by the UK Youth Parliament, as outlined below:
Responsibilities and Code of Conduct for Members of Youth Parliament (MYP):
An MYP’s duty is towards the young people who voted for them, those who did not vote for them, and every young person in their constituency
Members’ choices and decisions should reflect the mandate of their constituents
MYPs should identify, discuss, debate, and address issues of concern to young people, seeking ways to effect positive change or resist unwanted change at all levels
MYPs should follow up on conversations, decisions, and actions
MYPs should update the local youth voice vehicle or equivalent support structure and the National Youth Agency about their work
Develop and increase the representation of young people for their benefit. Attend and participate in events and meetings, organize events, run campaigns, make speeches, hold debates, and ensure that the views of young people are heard by decision-makers
At all times, members should act and communicate in a manner that does not damage the reputation of the Bangladesh Youth Parliament or the National Youth Council
MYPs should respect and listen to the views of others, challenge discrimination, and promote equal opportunities
MYPs need to show political neutrality when carrying out their roles or representing the Youth Parliament
Elections may occur every two years with a two-term limit for serving as a minister or prime minister within the Youth Parliament.
Each MYP should act within the rules and regulations of the criteria, ethical norms, and integrity outlined in the Youth Parliament rulebook. This should include, but not be limited to, rules on campaigning, campaign funding, and social media policy, and should be enforced by the Youth Ministry.
Mohammed Rakinul Hakim (Alvi), is a Business and Human Rights lawyer, a Founding Partner, Nexalegal, and Legal Advisor, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST).
