Published: 11 August 2016
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) observed this year’s International Youth Day (IYD) by placing nine-point charter of demands to the government urging to ensure, among others, the promotion of liberalism, non-communalism, patriotism, youth engagement in the government poverty reduction plan and space to reporting corruption and discrimination. The youth day is observed throughout the world with countless events to acknowledge and encourage the actions of youth towards a more constructive future. This year the global theme is ‘the Road to 2030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Consumption and Production’, a campaign that promotes the leading role of young people in ensuring poverty eradication and achieving sustainable development through sustainable consumption and production.
TIB’s call was made through a human chain organized on 10 August in front of TSC at Dhaka University where Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman observed that youths should be inspired towards shunning the wrong path such as militancy and extremism. “Youths were taking the wrong path in absence of the right environment”, he said.
The two-day observance of IYD that carried the theme: Invincible Youth: Together against Corruption’, also witnessed enthusiastic participation by more than 100 school children in a National School Debate Competition, jointly organized by Dhaka University Debating Society and TIB. Inaugurating the debate competition, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Dhaka Professor Dr. Akhteruzzaman advised the students to come forward in resisting the ill-effects of corruption in the society. Professor Syed Manzoorul Islam of Dhaka University outlined four tasks for the school students to reduce the influence of corruption from the society: learn from the biographies of reputable personalities, raise awareness against corruption, search for role models and remain actively engaged in the fight against corruption.
During the prize distribution ceremony on 11 August, Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique urged the youth to follow the ideals of the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to curb menaces of corruption in the country.
Debashish Bishwas from Udayan High School was adjudged as the best debater while Redwanul Islam from Adamjee Cantonment Public School was declared as first runner up and Farhana Amin Ripa from Shaheed Bir Uttam Lt. Anwar Girls College was declared as second runner up.
The closing Ceremony was held in 11 August where TIB’s Chairperson of Trustee Board Advocate Sultana Kamal, Moderator of DUDS Professor Dr. Mahbuba Nasreen, TIB’s Executive Director Dr. Iftekharfuzzaman were present among others.
The day is also being observed in 45 locations of Bangladesh where YES activists are similar messages so that young people can empower themselves and bring a fuller contribution to the society, development and peace.
It may be noted here that as part of its Youth Engagement and Support (YES) Programme, TIB has been mobilizing the youths of Bangladesh to join the social movement against corruption. Over the last 20 years, a pool of more than 1000 debaters representing schools, colleges and universities has been created_at who are not only knowledgeable about accountability and transparency issues, but also actively promoting and practicing TIB’s anti-corruption messages.
