At a Young Leaders Fellowship Program (YLFP) graduation event held in Dhaka on Wednesday, Democracy International (DI), which is the program’s implementation partner and receives funding from USAID, presented certificates to 26 young political leaders from throughout Bangladesh.
The graduates include Jatiyo Chhatro Shomaj, Bangladesh Jatiyotabadi Chhatro Dol, and Bangladesh Students League active leaders.
Four months of thorough instruction on a variety of subjects, including politics, leadership, democratic procedures, conflict resolution, creating political parties, and media relations were given to the young politicians.
536 young leaders have completed the program successfully to date. The Young Leaders Fellowship Program strives to develop young leaders’ political abilities, advance their careers within their respective parties, and promote understanding among leaders with various political allegiances. The initiative establishes a professional network that could aid in bridging Bangladesh’s entrenched political split. Young political leaders in Bangladesh highly praise the YLFP for providing a unique opportunity to learn about politics and leadership.
At the graduation ceremony, Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP’s Joint Secretary General Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal; Presidium Member of Jatiya Party Shamim Haider Patwari, MP; And Democracy International’s Chief of Party Dana L. Olds presented certificates to the fellows. Political Processes Advisor of USAID Bangladesh, Lubain Chowdhury Masum is also present at the ceremony.
The Young Leaders Fellowship Program (YLFP) graduates discussed their observations, lessons learned, and suggestions. At the occasion, they talked about their multiparty advocacy accomplishments collaborating on neighborhood issues. Additionally, they stressed their plans to stick together beyond the fellowship program, involve other young people, and fight teenage political apathy at the grassroots level.
Meher Afroz Chumki believes that people who have the opportunity to take part in this fellowship are fortunate because training always enhances one’s skill set. She thinks that by offering this fellowship, DI has paved the way for the next generation of leaders. The young people were exhorted by her to prepare for the future.
According to Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, Democracy International is attempting to bridge the gap created by the senior politicians with the newer ones. In reference to DI’s achievement of developing this bridge, he claimed that future leadership would be at risk if young people get fed up with politics.
Shamim Haider Patwari said that today’s youth want politics to solve problems, they want to do politics of the future for the people of the future. The failure of senior politicians is that they have not been able to build bridges with the younger generation. Even though there will be many obstacles, he urged the youth to come and contribute to politics.
Congratulations to the graduates, Chief of Party of Democracy International Dana L. Olds said in her closing remarks, adding that future lawmakers, ministers, and even a prime minister might be present. USAID is investing in you because of your potential. She stated that the participants collaborated to address concerns in the community and noted that this was not the end of their work together, asking them to maintain the bonds formed between the various parties and their shared cause.
