Discrimination needs to end to ensure development: Speaker

Not all the youths of the country get the same opportunities due to class barriers, and this discrimination needs to end to ensure their development, said Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury.

“Those of us who have worked on youth development with various organizations must address this disparity. Opportunities related to education, health, and employment must be accessible to all so that no one is left behind,” she added.

She made the remarks as the chief guest at Bangladesh Youth Summit 2022, organized by the largest youth-based non-government, national youth award winner organization Dhrubotara Youth Development Foundation (DYDF) at Krishibid Institute in the capital on Saturday. The event was sponsored by Manusher Jonno Foundation and Daraz.

“Our youths have a lot of potentials. When thinking about their development, we need to take the challenges coming with globalization into account as well,” said the Speaker.

Dr. Shirin Sharmin said, ‘whatever position we are in professionally, we can bring positive changes in the lives of others through our work that will be a great success that is a great achievement. DYDF has been doing that for the past 22 years. I wish them more success.’

ICT State Minister Zunaid Ahmad Palak also joined the summit and discussed the opportunities that were made by the ICT Division targeting the young population of the country.

“ICT policy was formulated in 2009, which had 306 issues to be addressed — all related to the development of the youth. In continuation of that policy, ICT was introduced in the national curriculum as a separate subject,” he said.

Lawmaker Shirin Akhter also attended the summit and urged the youth to work against communalism and all forms of discrimination.

“The skilled youth must retain the patriotism and cultural practices of the country,” she said.

Rabindra University Vice Chancellor, also the chair of DYDF, said the youth can contribute to shaping a new society. “Our youth participated in every historical movement of the country.”

DYDF also made various demands through a declaration at the event, including modernization of youth training centers, the establishment of a “Youth Bank”, withdrawal of all taxes on ICT products, training for the youth to implement the SDGs, raising awareness regarding climate change, and implementation of Youth Policy 2017.

Minister of Science and Technology Yeafesh Osman; Lawmakers Fakhrul Imam, Aroma Dutta, and Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary; Abul Kalam Azad, former principal secretary and envoy of PM; and Banasree Mitra Neogi, director (programme) of Manusher Jonno Foundation; spoke at the summit chaired and moderated by DYDF CEO Amiya Prapan Chakraborty Arka.

Dhrubotara Youth Icon Award was given to 10 individuals and 5 organizations on the occasion.