Voices of youth seldom heard in policy-making: envoy

The voices of the youth in Bangladesh are seldom heard in the policy-making process, said Norwegian Ambassador to Bangladesh Espen Rikter-Svendsen.

“Bangladesh still has a youthful population, but the voices of young people are seldom heard in the public room,” he said at a seminar jointly organised by The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Dhaka and Plan International Bangladesh at the ambassador’s residence in the city today.

Solutions to many of the challenges and pressing issues of Bangladesh as well as of other parts of the world must be sought in dialogue with the people who will still be here in the decades to come, he said at the event titled “Listen to the Voices of the Youth”, participated by around 25 youths from diverse backgrounds.

Plan International Bangladesh Country Director Kabita Bose stressed increasing investment in youth activism and leadership.

“We want girls and youths to have ample opportunities to flourish as we want youths to fulfil their dreams. We are here to support them,” she said.

Addressing some important social issues faced by Bangladeshi youths, a keynote speaker, Nasima Akter Nishi focused on entrepreneurship, skills and opportunities for Bangladeshi youth.

“Skill development is required for the youths to move forward in this competitive society. In this regard support from NGOs, government, and corporations is required to facilitate youth employment,” she said.

Another keynote speaker, Raka Noshin Nower spoke for promoting better social awareness of youth matters, gender equality, freedom of speech, creativity and tolerance among youth, creating a more skilled youth workforce, and facilitating youth entrepreneurship to combat unemployment.