Harnessing the Youth Dividend

Seminar on "Harnessing the Youth Dividend: Strategic Imperatives for Bangladesh in a Changing World"

The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) and the Department of International Relations (IR), University of Dhaka (DU), jointly organized a seminar titled “Harnessing the Youth Dividend: Strategic Imperatives for Bangladesh in a Changing World” on 14 August 2025. The event was hosted at the Professor Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury Auditorium, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Dhaka. Brigadier General (Retd) Dr. M Sakhawat Hussain, Honourable Adviser for the Ministry of Labour and Employment, and Ministry of Shipping, graced the seminar as the Chief Guest, while Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan, Vice Chancellor of DU, attended as the Distinguished Guest.

The inaugural session was chaired by Professor Dr. Rashed Uz Zaman from the Department of IR, DU. Dr. A S M Ali Ashraf, Chairman of the Department of IR, DU, provided the opening remarks, followed by a welcome address from Major General Iftekhar Anis, BSP, awc, afwc, psc, PEng, Director General of BIISS. The session also featured high-level insights from Eminent Guest Dr. Sayema Haque Bidisha (Pro-Vice Chancellor, DU), Special Guest Md Mahbub-ul-Alam (Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports), and Guest of Honour HE Ms. Shiuneen Rasheed, High Commissioner of the Republic of Maldives to Bangladesh.

The technical program was divided into three thematic sessions focusing on foreign policy, national reforms, and digital transformations:

• Session 1 (Youth in Shaping Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, and Security): Chaired by Professor Dr. Niloy Ranjan Biswas (DU), this segment featured papers by Lam-ya Mostaque (Research Fellow, BIISS), Ms. Monzima Haque (Assistant Professor, DU), and Ms. Faria Islam (Student, DU) navigating global geopolitics, multipolar diplomacy, and people-to-people connectivity.

• Session 2 (Youth in National Policy Making and Reform): Chaired by Professor Dr. Tofail Ahmed, PhD (Chairman, Local Government Reform Commission), this session explored structural decision-making pathways, diaspora youth integration, and education policy adjustments with presentations from Dr. Mahfuz Kabir (Research Director, BIISS), Dr. Saima Ahmed (Assistant Professor, DU), and Mr. Nafis Fuad (Student, DU).

• Session 3 (Youth in Digital Platforms & Digital Diplomacy): Chaired by Major General (Retd) Md Emdad-Ul-Bari (Chairman, BTRC), the final module investigated digital transformation tools, diplomatic connectivity, and social media literacy, featuring findings from Muhammad Mazedul Haque (Research Officer, BIISS), Mr. Md Tanvir Habib (Assistant Professor, DU), and Afia Ibnat Shuchi (Student, DU).

The seminar concluded with a formal vote of thanks delivered by Colonel A H M Yeaseen Chowdhury, MPhil, PhD, Research Director at BIISS.

Objectives of the Seminar

• To integrate youth perspectives into foreign policy: Examining how youth voices and public diplomacy can help Bangladesh navigate shifting regional and global geopolitics.

• To create institutional pathways for governance reform: Identifying practical models and overcoming roadblocks to include young demographics and diaspora youth directly within national decision-making bodies.

• To bridge rural-urban divides through digital transformation: Showcasing modern digital tools and digital literacy frameworks driven by the youth to promote inclusive national development.

• To foster responsible digital citizenship: Enhancing social media literacy and utilizing digital diplomacy platforms to securely connect Bangladesh with the global community.

• To build cross-sectoral collaboration: Strengthening strategic research partnerships among state institutions, academic faculties, and the student body to harness the country's demographic dividend effectively