Photo: Collected

DHAKA, June 9, 2026 (BSS) - Speakers at a seminar today stressed the need for 
empowering young people and ensuring their meaningful participation in 
policymaking and development initiatives to accelerate the achievement of the 
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Bangladesh.

The observations came at a seminar titled "Young Leaders, Sustainable 
Futures: Advancing the SDGs Together", jointly organized by the Bangladesh 
Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) and the United 
Nations Office for Project Services at the BIISS Auditorium in the capital.

The seminar brought together policymakers, development practitioners, 
academics, youth leaders, civil society representatives and development 
partners to discuss how young people can play a transformative role in 
advancing the SDGs in Bangladesh.

In his welcome address, Major General A S M Ridwanur Rahman, Director General 
of BIISS, highlighted the importance of empowering youth as key stakeholders 
in the country's sustainable development journey. 

He stressed the need to create an enabling environment where young people can 
contribute meaningfully to policy discourse, innovation and community 
development.

Two presentations were delivered at the seminar by BIISS Research Fellow Md 
Rafid Abrar Miah and Professor Dr Kazi Maruful Islam of the Department of 
Development Studies at the University of Dhaka. 

They highlighted the role of youth-led innovation and policy engagement in 
achieving the SDGs at the local level and discussed the challenges and 
opportunities of youth participation in sustainable development.

Speaking at the event, UNOPS Bangladesh and Bhutan Country Manager Sudhir 
Muralidharan reaffirmed the organization's commitment to supporting youth 
engagement, SDG localization and multi-stakeholder partnerships for 
sustainable development.

He said young people are not merely beneficiaries of development but active 
partners and drivers of change, underscoring the importance of investing in 
youth leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship and meaningful participation 
to accelerate progress toward the 2030 Agenda.

Secretary General of BIMSTEC Indra Mani Pandey attended the programme as the 
guest of honour, while Principal Coordinator (SDG Affairs) at the Prime 
Minister's Office Professor Dr S M Abdul-Awal joined as the special guest.

Addressing the gathering, Pandey emphasized the importance of regional 
cooperation and youth engagement in addressing shared development challenges 
across the BIMSTEC region.

Participants noted that achieving the SDGs requires stronger collaboration 
among government institutions, development partners, academia, civil society 
organizations, the private sector and youth-led organizations.

The seminar concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening youth 
participation in SDG localization efforts and promoting collaborative actions 
to empower young people as leaders of sustainable development.