Responsive role of the youths and the students in particular is very vital for supplementing the government’s efforts of taking the country forward successfully, said speakers at a meeting here yesterday. They mentioned that the present government under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working relentlessly for taking the nation to a new height. So, the young generation should extend their wholehearted support to the government endeavors. They made the observation while addressing the opening session of a daylong ‘Barendra Youth Conference and Reception 2020’ at Shilpakala Academy auditorium in Rajshahi.

Barendra Region Youth Organisations Forum (BRYOF) and Bangladesh Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK) jointly organised the conference attended by more than 300 youths from 46 organisations.

 ‘Youth power to stop discrimination’ was the main slogan of the conference.

Valiant Freedom Fighter Dr Abdul Mannan, writer on the War of Liberation Waliur Rahman Babu, Assistant Professor Abhijit Kumar Roy from the Department of Anthropology

in Rajshahi University, business leader Sekendar Ali, General Secretary of Rajshahi Press Club Aslam-Ud-Dowla and environmentalists Yousuf Ali Mollah and

Mahbub Siddiqui addressed the meeting.

Shahidul Islam, Regional Coordinator of BARCIK, illustrated the aims and objectives of the conference in his concept paper presentation.

The speakers viewed responsive and effective role of the youth volunteer organisations is very important towards supplementing the government efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

More other youth organisations should come forward and work together with better understanding to infuse dynamism in all the nation-building process and activities to make those sustainable in the greater interest of achieving SDGs within the stipulated time.

Dr Abdul Mannan told the meeting that many of the SDGs were set with the proposals of Bangladesh which were also reflected in the ten special initiatives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Actually the Prime Minister’s Special 10 Initiatives and SDGs are tied in a single string, he said, adding that the country witnessed remarkable development through implementation of these initiatives.

He urged the youths to play their due role so that the officials concerned remained liberal in delivering information to people to ensure accountability and transparency in public offices.

The daylong conference included opening rally, idea contest, plan presentation and cultural programme.