Bangladesh has had a demographic dividend, with a rise in the population of working age. The future artists of the nation are its youth. They play a significant role in the success and future of the nation. In addition, young people and girls are fighting climate-related disasters and humanitarian crises on the front lines.
According to youth activists, professionals, and academics, it’s crucial to address that situation and promote intergenerational relationships and solidarity. On International Youth Day, they were speaking during an intergenerational discussion. An outstanding illustration of young strength is the youth-led response to the Sylhet Division and Kurigram flash flood. The speakers applaud the flood relief activities being carried out by youth organizations and volunteers, and they call on the government, senior citizens’ groups, and development partners to join them.
YouthNet for Climate Justice, the largest youth-led network for climate advocacy in Bangladesh, hosted this intergenerational dialogue on Friday (August 12th) evening to foster partnerships between young and elders. Shakila Islam, the national coordinator of YouthNet for Climate Justice, chaired the discussion while Prof Dr. Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, Chairman, Department of Environmental Science at the Stamford University Bangladesh, Moyen Uddin Ahmed, Program Manager – Humanitarian Response and Resilience, Islamic Relief Bangladesh were the key speakers.
The intergenerational conversation was co-hosted by Coastal Youth Action Hub and Protiki Jubo Sangshad (Bangladesh Model Youth Parliament). The intergenerational debate’s primary objective, according to the organizers, was to promote intergenerational togetherness in order to prevent age-based discrimination. establishing a social structure so that girls and young women are not merely seen as being vulnerable to natural disasters and other human tragedies.
Taking part in the discussion, Professor Dr. Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumdar stated that if we want to change the behaviors of the mass people to deal with environmental and climatic catastrophes, we must engage with the youngsters. It is easier to bring change in the younger generation than in the elder one. The current and future generations are innocent victims of the climatic and environmental problems caused by previous generations. Today’s global catastrophe is the result of past generations’ consumerism and greed, as well as rising immoral profits through commerce with little concern for biodiversity, nature, or the environment. In coping with this challenge, there is no alternative than generational partnership and solidarity.
Professor Majumdar further stated that we cannot endanger future generations. As a result, more intergenerational conversations must be conducted so that the youth can benefit from the elders’ richness of experience, both achievements, and missed opportunities. We will be able to ensure a safer planet for all if we work together with the passionate enthusiasm of youth and the wisdom of the elders.
Sohanur Rahman, the Executive Coordinator of YouthNet, gave the dialogue’s fundamental idea. Young climate warriors Syed Afzal Siam of Sylhet and SZ Opu of Youthnet Central Committee discussed their experiences with flood response, moderated by Fairuse Mou. Nawfat Adibah Ibshar, district coordinator of Youthnet Habiganj unit, and Humayra Ahmed Jeba, Sylhet’s women climate warrior, discussed the experience and challenges of women leaders in dealing with humanitarian crises during floods.
