On Tuesday, August 12, National and International Youth Day 2025 will be celebrated across the country. This year’s theme, “Tech-Driven Youth Power, Progress Through Multilateral Partnerships” (Youth Advancing Multilateral Cooperation Through Technology and Partnerships), reflects the government’s focus on harnessing youth potential through technology and collaborative efforts.
Building on the momentum of youth activism following the July mass uprising, the Department of Youth Development has intensified its programmes to transform young people into skilled human resources. These initiatives include vocational training, self-employment loans, and engagement in volunteer services.
Over the past year, the department has trained 271,719 youths aged 18-35 in various trades and will disburse loans totaling Tk47.26 crore to 4,985 young men and women (2,534 males and 2,451 females) to mark the occasion.
The celebrations will commence at 7:30am with a colourful youth rally organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, starting from the National Museum and concluding at Hotel Intercontinental. The rally will feature participation from government officials, youth organisations, trainees, and young entrepreneurs.
This will be followed by the main inauguration ceremony at 10am at Hotel Intercontinental, where the National Youth Awards will be presented to outstanding contributors in youth development. Award categories include national and divisional levels, with special recognition for ethnic minorities, transgender youth, and differently-abled individuals. Winners will receive cash prizes, crests, and certificates.
Special programs have been implemented nationwide, including training 1,076 youths to assist traffic police in maintaining road discipline through traffic management and social awareness programmes. The department is also running innovative projects like freelancing training across all 64 districts, establishing eco-friendly biogas plants, and operating mobile computer training vans in remote areas. Through the EARN project, the government aims to create employment opportunities for 900,000 uneducated, untrained, and unemployed youth.
Across districts and upazilas, various activities including oath-taking ceremonies, discussion forums, training certificate distributions, loan cheque handovers, cleanliness drives, and blood donation campaigns will be organised. The department will also release commemorative publications, annual reports, and success stories of award recipients to highlight youth achievements.
These celebrations underscore the nation’s commitment to empowering its young population as drivers of progress through technological advancement, skill development, and inclusive partnerships, building on their demonstrated potential during the July uprising and beyond.