Dhaka: A total of 16 individuals, comprising 12 successful self-employed youths and four youth organizers, were honored with the National Youth Award 2025. Adviser to the Ministries of Youth and Sports and Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, presented the awards at a city hotel during the National and International Youth Day 2025 celebrations.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, this year’s Youth Day is themed ‘Youth Advancing Multilateral Cooperation, Through Technology and Partnership.’ Asif Mahmud, in his address, expressed his belief that the youth of Bangladesh will be pivotal in realizing a new Bangladesh rooted in equality, civic dignity, justice, democracy, and prosperity. He highlighted technology as the fundamental driving force in this endeavor.
The adviser elaborated on several initiatives aimed at bolstering the technology sector, which include exploring and developing the semiconductor industry, reducing internet costs, building modern ICT infrastructure, creating a startup ecosystem, and concentrating on artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies. He also noted the official recognition of e-sports and ongoing efforts to establish the legal framework necessary for the sector’s growth.
Mahmud emphasized that approximately 63 percent of Bangladesh’s population is under 35, making youth the nation’s most significant asset. He outlined government programs designed to enhance youth development through training, loans, and technological skill-building. Since the directorate’s establishment, nearly 7.4 million youths have received training across various trades, with 1.1 million benefiting from loans exceeding Tk 2,700 crore.
Government projects aimed at youth welfare, including the Impact Project for biogas plant installation training, mobile ICT training, freelancing programs, and vehicle driving training initiatives, were also highlighted by the adviser. Under the EARN (Economic Acceleration and Resilience for NEET) project, 900,000 young individuals are set to receive skill development training. Further efforts are underway to enhance skills in artificial intelligence and automation, alongside a training-based self-employment project for those impacted by the July mass uprising and families of martyrs.
The event also featured speeches from Youth and Sports Secretary Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Ministries of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Ministries of Road Transport and Bridges and Railways Dr. Sheik Moinuddin, and Director General of the Department of Youth Development Dr. Gazi Saifuzzaman.