Speakers during a virtual discussion on Saturday laid emphasis on quick implementation of the youth policy to ensure youths' equal rights for the nation's balanced development.
They also called for ensuring youths' equitable access to education, skills development, financial inclusion and participatory planning to this effect.
The dialogue styled 'Implementing National Youth Policy-2017, Concerns of Diverse Youth people to address' was hosted by Dhrubotara Youth Development Foundation and ActionAid Bangladesh.
Former cultural affairs minister Asaduzzaman Noor, social activist and parliamentarian Aroma Dutta and former fisheries minister Narayan Chandra Chanda, among others, addressed the function.
Zakia Tabassum Zui, a member of the standing committee on youth and sports ministry and Akhtaruz Zaman Khan Kabir, director general of the department of youth development also spoke.
Dhrubatara Youth Development Foundation executive director Amiya Prapan Chakraborty Arka moderated the discussion.
At the programme, Mr Kabir said a committee of the ministry concerned has been working to materialise the youth council.
The committee is scheduled to sit again this week to finalise the procedure," he said, adding that the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the operations.
Youths from upazila level will represent the council to make it more purposeful, Mr Kabir said.
Mr Chanda said every youth, irrespective of their gender, caste, origin and geographical region, must be equally treated to ensure their rights. "The activities related to youths development has to be inclusive, unbiased, justified and objective oriented," he cited.
Although the country has succeeded in ensuring education for all, Mr Chanda said, many people do not use the knowledge for right activities.
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