ZCZC
BSS-09
DIALOGUE-MANIFESTO-YOUTH (with picture)
‘Youth must be given priority to attain SDGs’
RANGPUR, Feb 23, 2019 (BSS) – The political parties should implement
commitments to youth in their manifestos for the 11th parliamentary elections
giving priority to them to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by
2030.
Leading development experts, economists, youth and civil society members
expressed the view at a dialogue styled “Electoral Commitments and Youth
Agenda” held at a city hotel on Friday evening.
The Citizen’s Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh Centre for Policy Dialogue
(CPD), Nagorik Uddyog and Jaago Foundation jointly organised the event aiming
at determining preferences of local youth to attain the SDGs.
Mayor of Rangpur Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa attended the dialogue as the
chief guest with Core Group Member of the Citizen’s Platform for SDGs and
distinguished Fellow of CPD Professor Mostafizur Rahman in the chair.
Former Prof of the Department of Economics at Rangpur Carmichael College
Malay Kishore Bhattacharya and Member of the Central Committee of Sushashoner
Janno Nagorik Akbar Hossain were present as guests of honour.
Chief Executive of Nagorik Uddyog Zakir Hossain delivered welcome speech
narrating goals and objectives of the dialogue.
Convener of the Citizen’s Platform and distinguished Fellow of CPD Dr
Debapriya Bhattacharya delivered keynote presentation.
Debapriya discussed manifestos presented by different political parties
pledging various commitments concerning youth before the 11th parliamentary
elections.
He said political parties committed in election manifestos to enhance
capacity of youth, create employment opportunities and formulate a policy for
young entrepreneurs, increase rooms for quality education, research and many
others.
“The youth are the catalyst of accelerating development and they have
capacity to identify challenges being faced by the society and contribute to
mitigating such barriers with their innovations,” he added.
Dr Debapriya further said Bangladesh in advancing forward on its journey to
implement the SDGs by 2030 and suggested policymakers to act appropriately
for mobilising the youth power to attain sustainable development.
The open discussion session turned attractive with participation of youth,
professionals and civil society organisations, academics and journalists.
The chief guest said the youth must be given priority while implementing
commitments in the election manifestos along with promoting youth
entrepreneurship and producing skilled youth workforce for achieving the
SDGs.
BSS/MI/SSS/1407 hrs