Young leaders call for greater role in politics, agriculture, education

Young people are emerging as a key force in shaping Bangladesh's political, social and economic landscape following the July uprising, speakers said at a webinar yesterday.

They said the growing interest and capabilities of young people must be turned into meaningful participation, productive opportunities and a stronger role in nation-building.

The discussion was held at a webinar "Today's Agenda", organised by the Policy Research Institute. Young politicians, organisers and entrepreneurs discussed the prospects and challenges facing the younger generation in post-uprising Bangladesh.

Tajnuva Jabeen, an organiser of Alternatives (a political platform), said one of the major outcomes of the July Uprising was renewed interest in politics among young people.

"The stigma that keeps qualified young doctors, engineers and bankers away from politics must be broken," she said, adding that a genuinely decentralised political system could help build a better Bangladesh over the next 10 to 15 years.

Sakib Hossain, chief executive of Fosol (safe, sustainable food supply chain), highlighted the technology and information gaps in the agriculture sector.

He said farmers remain heavily dependent on middlemen and face uncertainty over whether their produce will ultimately reach the market. Technology is transforming every sector, except agriculture.

Agriculture entrepreneur and content creator Umme Kulsum Popy said agriculture remains one of Bangladesh's most promising sectors, despite many young people avoiding it in search of higher incomes and greater social status.

She urged young people to view agriculture as a sector around which they can build their future and bring pride to their families.

Daw Singh Nue Marma, team lead at Tongdaingni (focuses on promoting accessible, culturally relevant education for indigenous communities), highlighted the importance of non-traditional, technology-supported and nature-based education in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Nue Marma said youth networks could help overcome language barriers and expand access to education among communities in the region.

Lawyer Khalequzzaman said the continued presence of colonial-era laws remains a major obstacle to institutional reform, calling for legal reforms to begin at the grassroots level.

Munim Mubashshir, co-founder of the Bengal Institute of Peace and Economic Development, said the period following the July uprising had exposed a difficult reality.

Many people who sacrificed their lives during the uprising had the vision and ability to rebuild the country, but were never given a place at decision-making tables, he said.

Hossain Zillur Rahman, chairman of the Policy Research Institute and moderator of the webinar, said the desire for change was Bangladesh's greatest strength in the post-July period.

However, he said institutional reforms must begin at the grassroots level and address structural forces that resist change.