‘Role model for youth missing’

More than 80 per cent of the Bangladesh youth today are anxious about the country in view of uncertain future, social insecurity, lack of decent jobs, and burden of family responsibility.

Rakib Avi, a programme manager at Social Innovation Lab of Brac, made the observation based on a study, while addressing a youth conference styled ‘Bangladesh and Agenda-2030, Expectations of the Youth’, organised by Citizen’s Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh, in the city on Sunday.

“We also do not have local role model,” he said dwelling on often reference to globally famed personalities for inspiring Bangladeshi students. In this context, he emphasised the need for creating enlightened citizens and developing an empathetic and tolerant society.

About millions of unemployed youths, Tahnee [single name], a British Council official, said a study found that 72 per cent of these youth want to take training to come out of their lack of employability.

Syed Nasim Manzur of Apex Group regretted that education that is being provided at the country’s major institutes is hardly useful in the industries.

“There is BBA-MBA galore, but we don’t need that. We rather need more technically sound people,” he told one of the sessions.

Enamul Mazid Khan Siddique, a youth leader, said youth should act beyond their profession. “We should think about social development plus career development, not social development vs career development.”

A software engineer by profession, Belayet Hossain said there is always a crisis of capital when a youth wants do something innovative in society.

He pointed out that the youths mostly remain unemployed before 30 years of age and “do nothing beneficial”.

Rakin [single name], a youth leader, called himself a victim of nepotism at the university and said it is epidemic in society. “We should work to build a quality-based employment environment to ensure the participatory youth leadership,” he insisted.

Asif Saleh, a senior director at BRAC, expressed concern about a widening digital divide in society.

On such divide, convenor of the platform Debapriya Bhattacharya said, “We are trying to create a social force to fight such reality. We’re trying to reach the grassroots through this kind of initiatives.”

Sanjib Drang said there is an inequality in society and it is increasing day by day.

Coordinator of Nijera Kori initiative Khushi Kabir said youth should come forward to challenge their seniors instead of blaming them for not leaving their positions.