News Desk : dhakamirror.com
The British Council launched its third ‘Next Generation Bangladesh 2024’ research series event on Wednesday, 06 November 2024 at its office on the Fuller Road in Dhaka.
The ‘Next Generation Bangladesh 2024’ report, an insightful research initiative by the British Council, explores the aspirations, challenges, and perspectives of young Bangladeshis. The findings aim to provide an insight of young people’s perceptions, aspirations, and challenges which will be instrumental in shaping policies aligned with the country’s development goals.
Aibek Iliasov, senior director of Research, Evaluation and Learning, M&C Saatchi World Services, presented the Next Generation Bangladesh 2024 report based on opinions of a total of 3,081 people aged between 18 and 35 from diverse backgrounds.
Based on the respondents’ opinions, the report said nearly half of participants (46%) reported facing gender discrimination, with domestic violence particularly affecting women.
According to the findings, although young people share a strong sense of national pride, optimism for Bangladesh’s future has fallen from 60 per cent in 2015 to 51 per cent in 2024.
About 42 per cent of the young people said that unemployment was their most pressing concern, while 55 per cent youths expressed interest in international migration, particularly to Saudi Arabia (27 per cent) and Canada (18 per cent).
Lack of job opportunities has fostered an appetite for entrepreneurialism where over four in 10 (44 per cent) young Bangladeshis are interested in starting a business in the next five years.
Findings also reveal that 58 per cent of youths need more trust in the political system, while only 17 per cent youths want to engage in community decision-making, underscoring a gap in civic leadership.
Sarah Cooke, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, said, ‘This report amplifies youth voices and highlights our collective responsibility to empower the next generation.
Addressing the event as chief guest, Lamiya Morshed, chief coordinator, SDG affairs of the chief adviser’s office, said, ‘The Next Generation Bangladesh report is more than just an analysis. We are committed to supporting, amplifying your voices, and collaborating with you, empowering you to shape a Bangladesh that embodies dreams and aspirations of its entire people.’
The report also included actionable recommendations to harness the potential of the youth. These include enhancing vocational training and education to bridge the skills gap, creating employment opportunities, improving access to quality healthcare services, fostering greater youth involvement in governance, promoting gender equality and addressing social disparities. – Press release
