OTTAWA (CANADA), Feb 27, 2025 (BSS) - A youth fest with the spirit of 'Let's change the country, let's change the world' was held at Bangladesh High Commission premises here yesterday.

The fest titled 'Conversation with Bangladesh-origin International Students in Canada' was jointly organized by the Bangladesh High Commission, Canada, and the University of Ottawa Bangladeshi Students' Association.

The event brought together emerging professionals, Bangladeshi-origin international students and policymakers for an in-depth discussion on the skills, strategies and leadership pathways that will shape the next decade.

A panel discussion moderated by Bangladesh High Commissioner to Canada Nahida Sobhan, sparked conversations on career advancement and the professional challenges unique to Bangladeshi-origin youth.

The panel featured young Bangladeshi-origin professionals working in Canada's public and private sectors-Atiq Rahman of Employment and Social Development Canada, Tahsin Ahmed of Public Health Agency of Canada, Nadira Begum of IA Financial Group and ZarinHasan of University of Ottawa.

High Commissioner Nahida Sobhan praised the indomitable spirit of Bangladesh's youth and hoped that they would continue to be the agents of change in our nation-building efforts and international development with their bravery, strength, acumen, and ingenuity drawing the inspiration from the 2024 July Uprising.

The special guest of the fest Atiq Rahman, Assistant Deputy Minister, Employment and Social Development Canada, made a compelling presentation on Canada's evolving job market, highlighting technology, healthcare, finance and green energy as high-growth industries and emphasized the increasing importance on adaptability, communication, and leadership skills that transcend sectors and define professional success.

Together, they offered practical insights on navigating the emerging career paths and leadership roles in public and private sectors of Canada.

The discussion also highlighted the ways forward to tackling the challenges of transitioning from international students to working professionals and career progression in leadership roles in the spirit of July-August uprising in Bangladesh.

Panelists also called for networking and actively reaching out to mentors and industry professionals, emphasizing that connections and continuous learning are key to career growth and leadership success.