In the drive for a fairer, more inclusive, and democratic Bangladesh, youth are taking the lead, shaping the nation’s future. Motivated by their struggles, they are working closely with stakeholders to identify challenges and develop solutions that bring their vision of a better future closer to reality.
Youth for Policy (YfP) recently kicked off a nationwide initiative, starting with a virtual Training of Trainers based on YfP’s Youth Manifesto Model as part of its social accountability approach. This training brought together youth from over 20 districts, representing diverse gender and ethnic groups, to develop leadership skills and engage in policy discussions.
Building on this foundation, YfP organized 20 forums across the country, engaging more than 500 youth from various districts. Each forum focused on local issues as well as national challenges, ensuring that the voices of all were heard. Specialized forums were also held for marginalized groups, including persons with disabilities, the transgender community, the Harijan community, and tea workers. These discussions spanned 16 districts and amplified the unique needs and perspectives of each group.
At the conclusion of each forum, the youth participants outlined five local demands to address the most pressing issues in their regions. Additionally, they proposed 10 national demands to bring forward at the national level. Key national demands included aligning the education curriculum with job market requirements, ensuring affordable healthcare for all, controlling price hikes by addressing market syndicates, and tackling corruption and money laundering.
At the local level, demands focused on issues such as the constitutional recognition of indigenous and Harijan communities, addressing the drug supply problem, and protecting rivers from environmental abuse and mismanagement.
What’s next? The youth are now compiling their national demands into a cohesive manifesto, which will be used to guide their ongoing advocacy efforts. Through sustained engagement, they will push for these critical changes to be implemented across Bangladesh, making strides toward a more just and equitable society.
