Initiative to amend the National Youth Policy 2017, employment to be the main priority

The workshop was organized on Tuesday at the BIAM Foundation in Dhaka by the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Bangladesh assisted in this, and VSO Bangladesh provided technical support.

In his speech as the chief guest, State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Aminul Haque said that the main goal of the amended youth policy will be to develop the youth as skilled human resources and create sustainable employment opportunities for them in the changing global reality.

He said a realistic and humane youth policy will be formulated based on everyone's opinions. Alongside this, gaining the trust of the youth is being given the utmost importance. To this end, a 'Youth Council' will be formed soon, where priority will be given to skill development, innovative thinking, and creative initiatives.

UNFPA Bangladesh representative Catherine Breen Kamkong said the role of young people in the country's economic and social development is increasing day by day. Therefore, the new youth policy must ensure the reflection of the opinions and expectations of young people from all regions and marginalized communities of the country. At the same time, an effective implementation system is also important.

The workshop, chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, was attended by the Director General of the Department of Youth Development, Md. Motahar Hossain, Joint Secretary of the Youth Division, Dr. Sheikh Mohammad Jobayed Hossain, along with representatives from various ministries, government agencies, development partner organizations, civil society, and youth representatives from different regions of the country.

It was informed at the workshop that as part of amending the National Youth Policy 2017, opinions, data, and recommendations will be collected from various stakeholders. Based on these recommendations, the new youth policy will be formulated in line with the needs of the future generation and global realities.