‘State must look after youth’

Speakers at a conference yesterday said the state has to take responsibility in ensuring that the youth of the nation are not derailing into extremism and militancy.

For this, the state must look after youths that they are growing properly in family surroundings, with quality education and health support, they said.

National Girl Child Advocacy Forum (NGCAF) arranged the conference on “Preventing extremism through involving youths” at the auditorium of Institute of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh.

Addressing the conference, NGCAF President and governance campaigner Badiul Alam Majumder said whether youths will derail to the path of extremism largely depends on the state’s actions.

If required steps are not taken, youths may turn into a burden on the country, he said.

Manusher Jonno Foundation Executive Director Shaheen Anam said vested groups -- which do not want Bangladesh’s prosperity -- are involved in influencing and derailing the youth into militancy.

Mentality of accepting differing opinions has to be developed among youths since childhood, she said.

Supreme Court lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua said many youths who remained outside the so-called educated group are more vulnerable to extremism.

“What project [to look after the youths] has the state taken for them?” he questioned.

Addressing the event as chief guest, Deputy Speaker of the parliament Fazle Rabbi Miah said youths were successful in earning the country’s independence in 1971 as well as in other historic movements.

If youths could succeed in the past, present-day youths should also overcome challenges, he said. Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights Co-chair Aroma Dutta also spoke.

Some youths, who are beneficiaries of an ongoing NGCAF project “Sampreeti”, supported by MJF, shared their learnings on extremism at the programme.