Photo: Collected
High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Canada Nahida Sobhan has underscored the vital role of young people in nation-building. During a panel discussion at the Youth Festival in Toronto, she commended the commitment and unity exhibited by Bangladeshi-origin youth in Canada during the 2024 movement. The envoy highlighted the critical role of young voices in driving sustainable nation-building efforts.
"The High Commission remains fully committed to engaging with Bangladeshi-origin youth in Canada, empowering them to be catalysts for progress and representing Bangladesh's dynamic potential," said the high commissioner, according to a message here.
The High Commission of Bangladesh in Ottawa, in collaboration with Progressive Action for Community Empowerment (PACE), hosted an event at the Albert Campbell Public Library in Toronto on January 18 as part of the ongoing Youth Festival 2025, an initiative by the government of Bangladesh.
The event, themed "Let's Change the Country, Let's Change the World," served as a platform for Bangladeshi-origin youth in Canada to explore their role in shaping a progressive and inclusive Bangladesh. A diverse group of students and young professionals who actively supported and organized protest events in Toronto during the historic July-August 2024 movement in Bangladesh attended the gathering.
A Davos-style panel discussion was the key highlight of the event, where participants shared innovative ideas and solutions to address critical challenges facing Bangladesh's future. Srijoni Rahman, one of the young panelists, emphasised the transformative potential of the Bangladeshi diaspora in driving positive change.
While thanking the High Commission of Bangladesh in Canada, she said Bangladeshi foreign missions should encourage youth engagement and foster a positive mindset so that the youth of the Bangladeshi diaspora can meaningfully contribute to Bangladesh's transformation.
She also said Bangladesh has always been a model and an inspiration for youth-led movements, and youths have always been catalysts for bringing about change.
"We should draw lessons from our values - the values derived from our War of Independence in 1971 and the July-August movement - to ensure social justice and equity."
Another panelist Urbi Khan, a youth representative from the Bangladeshi community and a journalist at the Toronto Star, reminded the audience that the youth have always been the vanguard of change in Bangladesh's storied history, including during the recent July-August movement.
She maintained that Bangladesh itself is the cherished fruit of revolutionary struggles, nurtured by the sacrifices and indomitable spirit of its people. She urged the youth to embrace the power of an open heart, to envision a brighter tomorrow, and to become the architects of meaningful change, guiding the nation toward a more just, prosperous and equitable future.
During the panel discussion, Emamul Haque, Executive Director of PACE and moderator of the session, emphasized the importance of collective action in advancing Bangladesh's development goals and strengthening its global standing.
"The solidarity of Bangladeshi-origin youth during the movement in Canada has demonstrated the power of shared vision and action in transforming Bangladesh," he said. The High Commission collaborated with PACE, a leading community organization dedicated to fostering collaboration among the Bangladeshi diaspora in Canada, for organising this event.
In addition to young participants, a significant number of community members attended. Notable guests included social entrepreneur Ahad Chowdhury, Mujibul Hoque, Abedin Khan, Ghulam Hilali, former student leader Nasir Ud Duza, Barrister Nusrat Jahan, and journalist Shaikat Rushdee, among others. The participants profusely thanked the High Commission for organizing this event.
Ahad Chowdhury thanked the High Commission and said, "Our generation feels inspired and motivated observing the commitment and dedication of our youth people towards the country, especially during the July-August movement."
The programme was part of the broader Youth Festival 2025, a series of initiatives designed to position Bangladesh as a vibrant, youth-driven nation while enhancing its global influence, said the High Commission.
Messenger/Tareq
