Youth empowerment key to building innovation-driven Bangladesh

Speakers at a dialogue have stressed that empowering young people is crucial for transforming Bangladesh into a sustainable, knowledge-based, and innovation-driven nation.

The remarks came at the event titled "Bangladesh Next: Youth Empowerment Dialogue", jointly organised by JCI Dhaka Aspirants and the Private University National Association of Bangladesh (PUNAB), with support from Panam Dialogues, held recently at the Bishwo Shahitto Kendro auditorium.

Participants highlighted the urgent need to strengthen youth leadership, enhance practical skills, and promote application-oriented education across the country to build a generation capable of driving national development.

Presiding over the session, Barrister S.M. Abid Ur Rahman, President of JCI Dhaka Aspirants, described the youth as the "driving force of tomorrow's Bangladesh," adding that they will lead the policy and technology-driven transformation of the nation.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr Ehsanul Haque Milon, former State Minister for Education, said meaningful national progress is impossible without application-based education. "Education must be treated as a national investment, not a commercial commodity," he remarked. He also called for a unified national framework to improve the skills, ethics, and leadership capacity of students, particularly in private universities, while expanding opportunities for research, innovation, and employment.

Young leaders from diverse sectors shared their perspectives during the dialogue. Among them were Arefeen Ahmed Raafi, Deputy National President of JCI Bangladesh; Md Shafiul Alam, CEO of Protein Market; Tonuka Tasnuva, Urban and Regional Planner; Dr Atikur Rahman Mujahid, Joint Convener of NCP; Barrister Shahedul Azam, Organisational Secretary of NDM; Mohammad Sajal, Clinical Nutritionist; Zahedul Islam, Member Secretary of Juboshokti; Mrinmoy Mizan, Convener of Biplobi Sangskritik Oikya; Jahid Ahsan, President of Jatiyo Chhatroshakti; Md Tanvir Ahmed, Advocate, Supreme Court; Shaykh Musa Al Hafiz, Writer and Philosopher; Asif Abdullah, DUCSU Student Transportation Secretary and Senate Member, Dhaka University; and Aminul Islam, Joint General Secretary of AB Party.

The event concluded on an inspiring note, transforming into a lively exchange of ideas that reflected the commitment, optimism, and leadership potential of young participants eager to shape the future of Bangladesh.