A two years project “Advancing Engagement by Setting Up Urban Youth Councils” in four cities of Bangladesh” (Mymensingh, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Narayanganj) with the support of SERAC-Bangladesh UNDEF and UN-Habitat to empower the youth and ensure their participation in decision making in general services in Bangladesh. According to the following activities- on 7th August 2022, Narayanganj City Corporation and SERAC-Bangladesh jointly organized a meeting at the local auditorium in the city of Narayanganj to formally hand over the guidelines for the urban youth council and exchange views.
The meeting was conducted by Md. Salim Miah, Assistant Director (Program) of SERAC-Bangladesh. The Chief Executive Officer of Narayanganj City Corporation Md. Shahidul Islam was present in the meeting as the chairperson and among other guests were the City Planner of Narayanganj City Corporation Md. Moinul Islam, Councilor of General Ward-15 Asit Baran Biswas, Reserved ward-22,23,24 councilor Shawon Onkon, Reserved ward-25,26,27 councilor Sania Akhtar, District Representative of BD Clean Md. Bijoy and journalists.
At the meeting, in the presence of the honorable Mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation, Government-private development Officers, and fifty members of the task force, the guidelines for the City Youth Council were presented and handed over to the Narayanganj City Corporation. Note that this guideline was earlier formulated on the basis of the views of the task force members in the guideline workshops under the Narayanganj City Corporation and in the validation meetings guidelines on the views of government and non-government development officials.
This project aims to involve the youth in the development activities of the city by democratically electing representatives from among them and presenting their views, opinions, and demands to the City Corporation. It will play a vital role in the development and leadership of the youth. By joining the Urban Youth Council as Urban Councilors elected by the youth under the project, the City Corporation will advise, participate and motivate the youth in the development activities of the city under the supervision of the honorable Mayor. The project will also assist the Government of Bangladesh in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals 11 and 16.
SERAC-Bangladesh’s Program Officer Md. Nahidur Rahman, Associate program Md. Shahadat Hossain Shahin, Narayanganj city coordinator Md. Nobi Newaz Sakib and taskforce members were also present at this meeting.
