Speakers at a national dialogue in Dhaka on Thursday highlighted the central role of young people in shaping Bangladesh’s mobility landscape, stressing that youth perspectives are vital to making migration systems future-ready and responsive to global changes.
It was noted that young people make up a significant share of migrants worldwide, and their insights are increasingly recognized in global forums as essential for building safer pathways and stronger migration governance.
With an estimated 1.8 billion youth globally, their voices remain critical for inclusive migration policies and narratives.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with the Government of Bangladesh and with support from the European Union (EU), organized the dialogue titled “Youth and Migration: Voice, Vision and Action.”
The event brought together young changemakers, policymakers and experts to discuss the role of youth in shaping the future direction of migration governance in Bangladesh.
Held ahead of International Migrants Day 2025, which will be observed under the theme “My Great Story: Cultures and Development,” the dialogue emphasized placing youth at the centre of the national migration narrative and strengthening their engagement in policy, advocacy and community leadership.
Two panel discussions examined ways to more effectively include youth in migration governance and how they contribute to national development through innovation, leadership and community initiatives.
Speakers also discussed how youth engagement can promote safe migration, support labour market integration and advance broader empowerment goals.
Participants included representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union, youth-led organizations, academia, UN agencies, the UN Youth Advisory Group and development partners.
Among those present were Lance Bonneau, Chief of Mission, IOM Bangladesh; Sadman Sakib, Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Habibullah Tamim, Senior Manager, BYLC; Rahnuma Salam Khan, National Program Manager, ILO; and Kamrul Kibria Ayon, Senior Manager, Resource Mobilization and Grants Management, JAAGO Foundation.
The event launches a series of youth-focused initiatives, including an upcoming Youth and Migration Plan and a nationwide campaign to enhance access to reliable information and recognize the contributions of young migrants.
In line with the UN Youth 2030 strategy, the initiative aims to strengthen innovation, social cohesion and more equitable outcomes.
Organizers noted that meaningful youth participation enhances accountability and inclusiveness and helps ensure that migration systems remain adaptive and forward-looking.
