Youth Forum: Shahjalal University of Science and Technology

On December 11 2016, a Bangladesh Priorities Youth Forum was held at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology in Sylhet. Fifty students from the Anthropology department of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology attended the forum. Prof AKM Mazharul Islam, Chairperson, dept. of Anthropology and Halima Akhter, Assistant Professor attended the forum as special guests.

After a lively debate and fruitful discussion regarding the ranking of top priority for Bangladesh, 16 students ranked “Boost agricultural productivity” as their top priority considering Bangladesh’s immense dependency on Agriculture. One of the students commented 

there is a need to boost productivity to fill the food shortage and to ensure food security.”

In addition, “E-procurement across government” was ranked as a top priority by another 13 students. To quote one of them

It will reduce time & cost of the processes and it will also increase the transparency of the process.”

Together, the students ranked the following interventions as their top 5 priorities for Bangladesh.

• Boost agricultural productivity.
• E-procurement across government.
• Land records digitization.
• Ultra-poor graduation programs.
• Psycho-social stimulation for stunting.