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Speakers at a seminar on Saturday emphasised that Bangladesh’s future prosperity hinges on the strengthening of democratic practices, inclusive governance, and the creation of an equitable and discrimination-free society.

The seminar, titled ‘Empowering Bangladesh: Leadership, Unity and Growth’, was jointly organised by Bangladesh Empowered, an organisation set up under  Ambassador Serajul Islam Foundation,  and the Department of History and Philosophy at North South University in the capital Dhaka at the university’s seminar hall.

Finance adviser Salehuddin Ahmed, presenting the keynote paper at the event, praised Bangladesh’s economic progress despite political and administrative challenges.

He said, ‘We have graduated from the lower-middle-income status and are on the track to move from the Least Developed Country status to the developing country status. This progress is the collective achievement of the people and successive governments, and no particular government can take credit for that.’

Salehuddin acknowledged the political hurdles the country continues to face and underlined the need for a free and fair election, calling the current administration a transitional one tasked with laying the groundwork for deeper reforms.

‘We may not reform everything overnight, but we aim to leave a blueprint for the next political government to follow,’ he added.

He also said, ‘The youths are in fact the reservoir of our manpower, and if we orient them to technologies, skills, education and modern techniques, it will definitely benefit Bangladesh.’

Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed optimism for the nation’s future, placing trust in chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus to address the political crisis.

He reaffirmed that Bangladesh’s future will be decided by its own people — not foreign powers — and highlighted the pivotal role of youth throughout the nation’s history, from the Language Movement in 1952 to the July-August mass uprising in 2024.

‘The people of Bangladesh will determine the country’s future, not India, not the US, nor China,’ he said.

‘There is no alternative to democracy, and it must be practiced — not imposed,’ added Fakhrul.

The BNP secretary general said everyone seems to be growing frustrated after listening to television talk shows and the speeches of scholars and political leaders all around.

 He said people are also getting worried about what the ultimate outcome will be, following the sacrifice of so much blood and so many lives during the July-August uprising.

 Despite frustrations, I believe good days lie ahead. We have always triumphed through struggle, he said

Former caretaker government adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman spoke of a ‘psychological transition’ among the people, particularly the youth, in the wake of recent political changes following July mass uprising.

He emphasised an inclusive economic growth, driven by Bangladesh’s core economic pillars — farmers, women entrepreneurs, remittance earners, and youth.

While readymade garments and remittances have powered the economy for decades, he noted, the country must now explore new growth sectors, including agriculture, where Bangladesh has the potential to become a global leader.

‘Countries like New Zealand, Denmark, Holland and Brazil have become agriculture super powers through agriculture — we can too,’ he observed.

Environment adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan highlighted youth activism as a hopeful sign, but warned that poor governance undermines the country’s potential.

She said, ‘Youth came to the street without fear, but we cannot win fear as our governance is not learning how to win fear.’

She criticised contradictory urban planning policies and environmental negligence, stating, ‘We cannot talk about development while ignoring environmental sustainability.’

Rizwana also said, ‘We are talking about sound pollution but we are not stopping our horns, and we are talking about reduction in agriculture land, but we are also seeking Rajuk apartments. In these ways, we have made our governance weak over the years.’

Special assistant to the chief adviser, Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, criticised the fragmented national education system, calling it ‘a complete mess.’

He stressed the need for the modernisation and unification of the educational curriculums and proposed lowering the voting age, mandatory national defence training, and including youth in policymaking.

About addressing gender disparities, Farah Kabir, country director of ActionAid Bangladesh, called for women’s inclusion in policy making and reforming discriminatory inheritance laws.

‘Women are treated as second-class citizens in this country as per the inheritance law,’ she said, emphasising that inclusive governance is not possible without women’s empowerment.

A highlight of the conference was the launch and presentation of the Ambassador Serajul Islam Future Leaders Scholarship, to be awarded to exceptional students from North South University and the University of Dhaka.

 Two DU students, Fatematuz Johra and Arpitha, and two NSU students, Shahnewaj Kabir and Samia Yasmin, received the scholarship for this year.

The scholarship has been introduced to honour the legacy of the late Ambassador Serajul Islam and his lifelong dedication to diplomacy, international engagement, and youth empowerment.