DHAKA, June 22, 2024 (BSS) - Youth leaders have expressed their expectations
that the Awami League (AL)-led government would take effective measures to
create more jobs for them and make the education system more realistic and
science-based.

Talking to BSS about their expectation to Awami League on the occasion of its
75th founding anniversary, they said as a pro-people party, AL should build
the youths keeping eye on the changing global scenario so that they can work
along with the government to make the country self-reliant in all fronts by
2041.

"AL government should take more effective measures to create employment
opportunities to ensure involvement of the youth force in the country's
journey towards development and progress," Md Shahadat Hossain, a student of
Archeology Department of Jahangirnagar University (JU).

He said youths are one of the artisans of building a developed country. The
country that has been able to utilize the youth power more rapidly,
progressed faster on the path of making development, he added.
 
Shahadat Hossain said the AL government should build the youths as able
citizens of the country so that they can participate in global leadership to
make Bangladesh's significant contribution to the global economy and politics
and establishing peace.

About the achievement of AL in its long journey of 75 years, he said the
party has contributions to the nation's every achievement including the
country's independence, ousting of an autocratic government, restoration of
democracy and taking the country towards Smart Bangladesh from Digital
Bangladesh.

Talking to BSS, Dhaka University Debating Society (DUDS) President Arpita
Golder said Bangladesh Awami League, established on June 23, 1949, holds a
significant place in the nation's history.

"Led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the party became the vanguard of East
Pakistan's struggle for autonomy and eventual independence, culminating in
Bangladesh's independence in 1971," she said.

Under Sheikh Mujib's leadership, the Awami League articulated the Six-Point
Movement, a pivotal demand for autonomy that shaped the political landscape
of the country, said Arpita.

She said after independence, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman started the works to rebuild the war-torn Bangladesh, but he along
with most of his family members were brutally killed on August 15, 1975.
Sheikh Mujib's two daughters-- Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana --- luckily
escaped the brutal assassination as they stayed abroad, she said.

In a national council session of the Awami League in 1981, Sheikh Hasina was
elected as party president in her absence and then she returned to the
country on May 17 of that year.

After returning home, Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina, revitalized the
party, leading it back to power and reinforcing its commitment to secularism,
democracy, and socio-economic development, the DUDS president said.

Since then, the Awami League has remained a dynamic force in Bangladeshi
politics, she added.

She expressed her hope that Bangladesh Awami League will implement policies
aimed at national progress more like Padma Multipurpose Bridge, Dhaka Metro
Rail, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel, Dhaka Elevated Expressway,
Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and many more.

Md Morshed Hasan Arif, student of Social Work Department of Jagannath
University, said in a long journey of 75 years, Awami League always worked
for the service of this country, nation and people.

Under the leadership of Awami League, the nation had fought the great
liberation war and achieved the country's independence, he said.

After the independence, the party made contributions to reconstruct the war-
torn country, he said.

Now the Awami League government led by Bangabandhu's daughter Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina has made the dream of a middle-income country a reality by
enriching all sectors including agriculture, education, health and technology
sectors.

On the 75th founding anniversary of Awami League, he hoped that the AL led
government would maintain its zero tolerance policy against corruption and
implement the Smart Bangladesh by overcoming all crises keeping the current
pace of the development.

He also hoped that the AL government will properly implement all the mega
projects like Padma Bridge, Metrorail and Bangabandhu tunnel.

 Rafiya Rahman, former general secretary of Jagannath University Science
Fiction Society, said under the leadership of Awami League government, the
country has achieved massive progress in various economic and social
indicators.

In terms of development, Bangladesh has caught the attention of the world,
she said.

"In view of building a Smart Bangladesh by the year 2041, we expect that more
new breakthrough steps will be added to engage the young generation in the
country's journey towards development," she added.