Nahid foresees youth influencing Bangladesh politics in next 20 years

Information and Broadcasting Adviser Md. Nahid Islam has said he believes the influence of youths would persist in Bangladesh's politics and society in the next two decades as the outcome of the July uprising.
 
"The young generation emerged through a massive mass uprising, will highly influence the state, politics and the society for at least next two decades with their thoughts, ideas and activities," he told BSS in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.
 
Nahid, who played a leading role as an Anti-Discrimination Students Movement leader during the July uprising, said despite their lack of experience and other limitations, the youths are eager to contribute to the country in every possible way.
 
He said the entire world now witnesses how Bangladesh's young generation is contributing to rebuilding the country after the fall of a prolonged dictatorship.
 
"They (youths) are ready to take on responsibilities and prepare themselves for the future," said Nahid, who is also entrusted with the portfolios of post and telecommunication and ICT ministry as its adviser.
 
He expected the trust and confidence people laid in them would grow even stronger in the coming days.
 
Nahid gave the interview as a nationwide nearly two-month Youth Festival 2025 is being celebrated under the auspices of the Chief Adviser's Office in memory of the July Uprising martyrs with a call for forging national unity.
 
The festival titled 'Let's change the country, Let's change the world' also aims to foster unity and promote an ethos of cooperation alongside supporting and bringing to the forefront - the contributions of local heroes and change makers.
 
"The sacrifices and resistance demonstrated by youths in 2024 to overthrow fascism have set an inspiring example, not just for Bangladesh but for the entire world," Nahid said.
 
He said the government wants to work with the youths and make them a political generation.
 
"We ourselves are also representatives of that young society. We want to develop the young generation as a political generation who will lead the future of Bangladesh," Nahid said.
 
He said students consistently played a leading role during the country's most historically significant moments, propelling the nation forward, and the '2024 Revolution' stands as the latest example of this enduring legacy.
 
"Therefore, people around the world expect that Bangladeshi youth will play a pivotal role in establishing democracy, creating a discrimination-free society, and safeguarding human dignity," the adviser said.
 
Nahid said the employment issue emerged as a priority focus of the interim government and therefore it put on its efforts to create jobs and encourage entrepreneurship in line with the call of the uprising.
 
He recalled that the uprising began with a demand relating to jobs and employment.
 
Nahid said the nation witnessed a significant decline in societal progress over the past 16 years in the absence of a proper education system and therefore the government must also focus on improving the country's education sector.