Work for people
Prof Abu Sayeed urges youths at leadership summit
(From left) President of Bangladesh Youth Leadership Centre Ejaj Ahmed, Bishwa Shahitya Kendra founder Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed, Secretary to the youth ministry Mahbub Ahmed, Managing Partner of pi Strategy Consulting Pial Islam and media personality Aly Zaker pose with a report titled Steering Bangladesh in the Right Direction at Youth Leadership Summit 2012 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre yesterday.Photo: STAR
A three-day youth leadership summit began yesterday with a view to spurring young generation to become competent and compassionate leaders to take the country forward. Bangladesh Youth Leadership Centre (BYLC), the country's first leadership institute, organised the summit at the capital's Bangabandhu International Conference Centre with the theme “Leading Bangladesh into the Future: A Journey of Exploration”. The second Youth Leadership Summit 2012 has brought together 450 youth delegates from all over the country and 50 national and international speakers, including experts from Harvard University and MIT, to facilitate knowledge sharing between the delegates and experts for exploring ways to lead positive changes of Bangladesh. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Bishwa Shahitya Kendra founder Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed said that although the word leader was used worldwide very lightly, a leader was not one special person. “A leader is the summation of many people”. Pointing at the youth delegates, he said if they wanted to be leaders, they should not buy others' views. "The things you listen to are your own conscience, intellect, and inner humanity”, he said. “The main power of leadership is to say 'I don't think so'”, he said, urging the youths to protest those things, which are irrational, unacceptable, erroneous, and false. Leadership is not being normal, leadership means a bit of madness--madness for the sake of a greater cause, he said. "I hope you [youths present] would be this kind of mad”. Calling on the young generation to love people and work for them, he said, “You would be successful that day when you give people something”. Eminent media personality Aly Zaker narrated the role of youths from 1947 to Liberation War in 1971. “It was youths, not the aged, who make all surprising achievements”, he said, urging youths to bravely move ahead on the right course, which would lead to the emancipation of people. Mahbub Ahmed, secretary to the youth and sports ministry, said a significant progress had been made in various sectors in the last 40 years, yet there were many problems, including inequality and deprivation, in the country. “Youths are the main agents of change”, he said, adding the country needed young leadership to further the progress. Narrating the aims of the summit, Ejaj Ahmad, founder and president of BYLC, said it was a privilege that 450 people were chosen from over 2,100 applications as delegates. “Think for your country. If meritorious people like you do not think who else will do”. A youth perception report based on the findings of Youth Leadership Summit 2011 was launched at the inaugural ceremony. "pi Strategy Consulting" and the World Bank provided analytical and financial support for the report. Pial Islam, managing partner, pi Strategy Consulting, presented the findings of the report, "Steering Bangladesh into the right direction", which outlines youths' perception across several thematic areas like leadership, entrepreneurship and globalisation. The youth summit covers a diverse range of topics, including entrepreneurship, climate change and renewable energy, good governance, global citizenship, social media, women and leadership, education and career, technology and innovation, and social impact markets. The US embassy is sponsoring the summit in partnership with the youth and sports ministry. The gold sponsors of the summit are Rahimafrooz and The Daily Star, and the silver sponsors are FBCCI, Adcomm, Al Arafah Islami Bank and Islami Bank. Robi Axiata Ltd, DrikICT and Radio Foorti are respectively the telecom, ICT, and radio partners.
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