Photo: Collected
President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called for the country’s huge youth population to be put to proper use.
He said, ‘The youth make up the largest part of the country’s population structure. This is called the demographic dividend. It is a great asset and opportunity for the country. If this vast youth power can be used properly, success will undoubtedly be achievable.’
The President said this at a programme held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital today to mark National Youth Day 2026.
In his words, ‘Bangladesh is still a least developed country. Bangladesh is supposed to become a developing country by graduating from least developed country (LDC) status. For this, the preparation period has been extended by another three years. That means the necessary capacity must be built during this time, so that Bangladesh can remain competitive after graduating to a developing country.’
The President also said, ‘The country’s youth can play the biggest role in this. They are the main driving force of the future, and the responsibility for building the future also rests in their hands.’
In his view, to take Bangladesh forward, the youth must be made work-oriented and the driving force of production must be handed to them. A country cannot be taken forward through political revolution or change alone; the country must also be built at the same time.
The President also specially highlighted the various contributions and activities of former President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Deshnetri Begum Khaleda Zia in youth development.
Reiterating the current government’s commitment to the development of the country and its youth, he said young people must be brought to the fore, and they must play the main role in every area of nation-building. The youth must be involved in every area of development and progress, and no obstacles can be allowed on the path to the country’s development and changing the fortunes of its youth.
Praising women and young entrepreneurs, the President said our young men and women are doing such good work that he was extremely pleased and encouraged to see it. With very little capital, they are launching various ventures and making their own products, and achieving success in exports as well as in the domestic market.
The President said he was particularly impressed by the success of women entrepreneurs. Giving an example, he said one woman entrepreneur is earning a significant income by making local food and sweets; besides supporting her family, she has also taken steps to export her products abroad.
The President described such success as encouraging. He urged young people to become self-reliant and self-sufficient rather than only chasing jobs, and also spoke of further expanding the scope of the Department of Youth Development’s work to support entrepreneurs.
The President said the Department of Youth Development runs various training programmes and also provides loan support after training. These initiatives must be made more effective and widespread. If training, loans and other support can be delivered to suitable entrepreneurs through proper procedures, it will be possible to reduce unemployment and build a self-reliant society.
In his view, given personal initiative and opportunity, a person can change their own situation and create opportunities for others as well. Making proper use of such potential is now the big challenge.
The President also spoke of the government’s responsibility in this regard: supporting entrepreneurs, providing the necessary training and arranging minimum capital so they can stand on their own feet. If small entrepreneurs can be properly supported, they will be able to create employment opportunities themselves, he remarked.
The President stressed technical education alongside general education to develop the country’s youth into skilled human resources.
Urging young people to stay away from drug addiction, he said drug addiction is now a major problem for our youth. The way drug addiction has spread among young people is extremely alarming. Effective measures must be taken to stop this addiction, and that requires awareness-building, campaigns and effective programmes.
The President urged the youth to come forward against all social ills, including violence against women, dowry and various forms of discrimination. In his view, the youth need to build a movement against these social injustices. They must set up organisations and awareness activities in every area on their own initiative, so that all negative practices that harm society can be prevented.
Stressing biogas production in the country, he said that although the idea of biogas projects is very old, it is highly effective and useful. If the use of biogas can be increased, a significant part of the demand arising from the fuel and electricity crisis we are now facing can be met. Such environmentally friendly energy projects must be spread across the country.
Congratulating the National Youth Award winners, the President said their achievements and success will remain an example for other young men and women in the country to follow.
At the end of his speech, the President declared open a week-long job fair marking National Youth Day and the biogas plants set up across the country. Earlier, he handed crests and certificates to national and divisional-level youth award winners.
State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque presided over the programme. Department of Youth Development Director General Md Motahar Hossain delivered the welcome speech. Md Abul Khayer Bhuiyan, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the ministry’s acting secretary Md Mahfuzul Alam Khan spoke as special guests.
A video documentary on youth activities was screened at the programme. Before that, on arriving at the venue, the President visited various stalls and the youth fair.
Background
According to a 21 February report in Desh Rupantor, under an earlier decision Bangladesh was due to graduate from the list of least developed countries on 24 November this year; the government applied to the United Nations to defer that graduation by three years.
Sources
Original report: BSS
Background sources: Desh Rupantor, 21 February 2026
