Highlight positive contributions of youths to society
Speakers tell media
Youngsters should be given more recognition for their positive contributions to the society rather than the media focusing on their negative traits, said speakers at a seminar, commemorating the International Youth Day, yesterday.
Despite being unemployed, many youngsters are carrying out activities that deserve recognition and appreciation by all, they said.
The seminar was organised by Department of Youth Development (DYD) in association with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) at Jubo Bhaban in the city.
"It is highly de-motivating when the media throws light on the destructive activities of youth rather than highlighting their positive attributes," said Rowshan Ara Feroz, a teacher of Dhaka University (DU).
The speakers noted that, it is always the youth who step in during times of dire crises, ranging from natural disasters, road accidents or donating blood to patients in critical conditions to doing social work in the neighbourhood.
Quoting a study conducted by the British Council, she said over 90 percent of the country's youngsters are interested in development-based activities.
"However, most of them could not name a single youth-based organisation from their localities, which shows the lack of promotion of such organisations" she said.
The speakers emphasised on the need for holding more dialogue with the young, in alignment with "Dialogue and Mutual Understanding", the slogan for this year's International Youth Day.
A teacher of Sociology at DU, Prof Nasreen blamed lack of communication between the young workers and their employers for the recent violence in the garments sector.
"As far as youngsters are concerned, lack of communication exists in every corner of our society, which is the prime reason behind the frustrations of today's youth," she said.
"Nowadays talented students are least interested in actively participating in politics in contrast to the times when usually the academics embraced politics in a bid to contribute to the nation," noted Shyamal Dutta, editor Bhorer Kagaj.
They also stressed on the need to take more initiatives to develop the younger generation and to provide them with employment.
Chairing the occasion, Md Azizur Rahman, director general of Department of Youth Development (DYD) remarked on the need to facilitate the movement of youth across national borders through bilateral negotiations.
State Minister for Youth and Sports, Ahad Ali Sarkar was present as the chief guest.
Director of Implementation, DYD, Khandaker Matiar Rahman, Country Director of VSO, Shahana Hayat and Secretary General of National Federation of Youth Organisations in Bangladesh Dulal Biswas, among others, spoke.
International Youth Day, an event observed throughout the world to celebrate youth and to recognise their contributions in enhancing peace and development was celebrated at United Nations headquarters in New York yesterday.
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