DHAKA, Oct 31, 2023 (BSS) - The National Youth Day-2023 will be observed
through various programmes across the country tomorrow.

With the aim of building 'Sonar Bangla' as dreamt by Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and keeping in mind the efficiency,
creativity, self-confidence and enthusiasm of the youths, this year's theme
of the day is "Smart Jubo Sammridha Desh, Bangabandhur Bangladesh".

On the eve of the day, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages greeting the country's youths and
wished all the programmes of the day a success.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin, in his message, said the large part of the
country's population is youth aged between 18 and 35 and steps needs to be
taken for proper utilization of demographic dividend to achieve SDG targets
by 2030 and turn the country into a developed one by 2041.
 
The Department of Youth Development is providing skill enhancement training
to the youths to make them fully skilled, modern and conscious while many of
them have already emerged as successful ones, he added.

Noting that a society of meritorious, skilled and ideal youths is the
backbone of the nation, the president said many of the trained up youth have
taken employment opportunities abroad and they are earning remittance for the
country.

"Therefore, the stance of the youths should be against all kinds of
injustices as well as drug abuse, terrorism and militancy," he said, adding
that their (youth) sense of duty and compassion towards the people of the
country should always be kept wakeful.

In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said responding to the call of
the greatest Bengali of all time Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman, the youths took part in the Liberation War putting their
lives in risks and created the new country of red and green, making the
supreme sacrifice.

Bangabandhu organised the youth instilling the patriotism among them, she
said, adding that the Father of the Nation also engaged the youths in
rebuilding the country after the independence and took initiatives and
formulated frameworks for creating an educated and skilled youth society.

The anti-liberation forces made an ill attempt to push the youths to
terrorism, anarchy and violence after brutally killing Bangabandhu along with
his most of the family members on August 15 in 1975, the premier said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said assuming the state power in 1996, the Awami
League government took and implemented various initiatives following the
footsteps of Bangabandhu to engage the youths in the mainstream of
development.

Later, since attaining victory in 2008 general elections, the government has
been continuing imparting multifaceted trainings to youths in technological,
technical, vocational and agro-based arena to turn them into skilled
manpower, she added.

The premier said her government has brought scopes for self-employment for
youths by providing collateral-free youth loans.

She said the government has formulated the 'Youth Welfare Fund Act, 2016' for
the youth development.

In order to involve the voluntary youth organisations in socio-economic
development and public awareness activities, the Youth Organisations
(Registration and Management) Act, 2015 and the Youth Organisations
(Registration and Management) Rules, 2017 have been formulated, she added.

The 'National Youth Policy-2017', 'Youth Action Plan', 'Youth Development
Index' and 'Youth Entrepreneur Policy' have been formulated to empower the
youths, the premier added.

Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Youth Development has been established in
Savar, outskirt of the capital, with the aim of ensuring social growth,
leadership, talent development, empowerment and employment of the youth, she
said, adding: "The process of forming the National Youth Council at the
district and upazila levels is underway."