Graffiti and Wall Art played a powerful role in the July 2024 movement as a youth expression, unification, and a hope of an inclusive Bangladesh. In the July Revolution the walls of the country were turned into mighty canvases of slogans and pictures by students and young people, as a sign of unity and solidarity. In order to keep this spirit alive, IID and Youth for Policy initiated the campaign “From Walls to Manifesto” resulting in the Youth Manifesto 2025, which seeks to give the youth a voice in political leadership before the national elections.
Based on more than 100 pieces of graffiti created by the youth and discussions, the project found several major problems, solutions, and created a manifesto of a just and inclusive society collectively. There is a need to make sure that the voices, aspirations and demands raised by the youth in the revolution are maintained and converted into practical policies. Graffiti was an effective tool of self-expression, protest and dreaming of an inclusive Bangladesh and without an organized medium, the message may get lost or forgotten. The project is essential in encouraging youth involvement in governance, an anti-discriminatory society, and also to make the energy and ideas of the July Movement translate into a practical societal change.
The campaign was held on 5–6 December 2025 at Dhaka, bringing together 32 young people from 24 districts, who were invited to translate their experiences and graffiti to the July 2024 movement into a shared manifesto. During the two days, the participants were introduced to the history and artistic language of the movement, the reason why they created graffiti during the movement, and the main themes identified based on July 2024 movement graffiti. They exchanged tales behind the walls and together wrote and delivered Youth Manifesto. Syeed Ahmed, the CEO of IID, facilitated the session and gave strategic guidance and direction during the discussions. The conclusion of the event was followed by the discussions of the District Action Plan, whose purpose is to make sure that youth voices are represented in political and social decisions.
The participants talked about various social, economic, and political problems that were expressed in the graffiti. Issues of significance were such as cultural rights and freedom of expression and the use of murals and other artistic platforms as a peaceful protest. At the same time, it was also pointed out to reduce economic inequality by fair employment, inclusive growth, social safety nets, gender equality and safety. Other debates were concerned with the development of a state based on citizenship and non-religious discrimination, safeguarding the indigenous and marginalized groups, facilitating equal and quality education, and developing trust and social unity. Also, professional dignity and labor rights were discussed in the manifesto which demanded safe and discrimination-free working conditions and rewarded merit. Graffiti was also emphasized as a historical and modern means of civic discourse, protest, and youth expression, and participants were able to examine how graffiti influences the formation of the discourse and social transformation.
Youth Manifesto 2025 offers a blueprint to the transformation of the energy, creativity, and demands of the July 2024 movement into tangible action. The next steps involve youths locally implementing the District Action Plans and to ensure that these voices are actively heard by political leaders and incorporated into policy decisions at national levels. Efforts will work towards promoting cultural rights, inclusive economic opportunities, gender equality, education reform, social protection and labor rights as emphasized in the manifesto. This initiative will keep the movement moving and create a more participatory, inclusive and impartial Bangladesh by continuing to provide spaces to express youth through murals, creative spaces and civic dialogue.