Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said Bangladesh’s youth are the present force behind democratic transformation at a “July Beyond Border” event on July 28 at the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations in New York. Photo : Collected

DHAKA, July 28, 2025 (BSS) – Foreign Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain has said that the youth of Bangladesh are not merely the future but the present force behind the country’s democratic transformation, crediting their leadership for turning a nationwide unrest into a movement for justice, equity, and systemic reform.
 
“It is often said that youth are our future. But, in Bangladesh, they became our present,” he said while speaking at the “July Beyond Border” event held at the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations in New York on Sunday, according to a message received here this morning. 
 
The Foreign Adviser reflected on the pivotal role young people played in the mass movement that began a year ago and led to a fundamental political shift in the country, 
 
“The youth-led movement ignited a mass upsurge and was embraced by every segment of our society,” he said. 
 
 The Foreign Adviser credited the interim government, led by Chief Adviser and Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, for channeling the momentum of the uprising into a reform-oriented national transition.
 
“With the formation of an interim government under the leadership of Chief Adviser, Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, the July Uprising turned to a passage toward a fairer and more inclusive Bangladesh with stronger institutions and a redefined collective future,” Hossain said.

 
He outlined key achievements of the interim administration over the past year, including repealing repressive laws, initiating constitutional reforms, revamping the electoral process, and restoring the independence of democratic institutions.
 
“We have repealed laws that stifled dissent and eroded public trust,” he stated. “We are overhauling the electoral process to restore credibility, inclusiveness, and the sanctity of the people’s choice.”
 
He also emphasized that many of the young people who led the protests are now helping shape the nation’s policies. 

“The youth who once led the protest rallies are now designing programs, driving digital innovations, and helping us chart our governance and development policies,” said the adviser. 
 
Highlighting the global relevance of Bangladesh’s experience, Hossain said the July story “resonates far beyond our borders” and aligns with global agendas such as Youth, Peace and Security, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Pact for the Future.
 
“To us, Youth, Peace and Security agenda, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, or more recent Pact for the Future are not abstract aspirations. They speak directly of our lived reality,” he said.
 
Calling for greater international commitment to youth leadership, Hossain urged policymakers to move “beyond just commemoration and celebration.”
 
“Let us invest in policies, platforms, and partnerships that place youth at the heart of leadership,” he said adding,  “Their courage, energy, and creativity will illuminate our path toward a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world.”
 
Bangaldesh Permanent Mission to the United Nations and the Consulate General of Bangladesh in New York jointly organised the event marking the first anniversary of the July–August 2024 mass uprising. 
 
Diplomats from various countries, UN officials and international community representatives attended the celebration.
 
Dr. Sudha Balakrishnan, a representative of the UN Youth Office, also addressed the gathering.
 
She said that the United Nations consistently supports the meaningful participation of youth in social transformation.
 
 “The youth at the forefront of political, social, and economic change in Bangladesh can serve as a powerful source of inspiration for other societies,” she noted.
 
 Foreign Adviser Hossain is currently in New York to attend a high-level UN meeting on the two-state solution to the Palestine issue.