The Youth Festival 2026, organized by Dhaka University (DU), was inaugurated on Sunday at the auditorium of the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building. Professor Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan, vice-chancellor of DU, inaugurated the festival as the chief guest.
Special guests at the event included Professor Dr Sayema Haque Bidisha, pro-vice-chancellor (Administration); Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed, pro-vice-chancellor (Academic); Professor Dr M Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, treasurer; Md Abu Shadik (Shadik Kayem), vice-president of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu); and Mohammad Rezaul Billah, senior vice-president of Management FBS Club Limited.
The event was presided over by Professor Dr Mohammad Zashim Uddin, convener of Youth Festival 2026.
The ceremony began with a recitation from the holy scriptures, followed by a captivating cultural performance. After the inauguration, a rally started from the Senate Building and concluded at the university mall area, where the guests inaugurated a tree-planting program.
In his speech as the chief guest, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan said that youth are one of the primary forces driving national progress, and the festival has been organized to acknowledge their contributions.
He expressed concern about emerging divisions among young people, noting that such trends are not conducive to national advancement. However, he said the unity demonstrated by the youth during times of crisis has repeatedly given the nation hope.
The vice-chancellor further said that activities to foster social responsibility, develop leadership qualities, nurture creativity, and ensure meaningful contributions to society must continue throughout the year. He added that Dhaka University’s progress depends on cooperation from society, making effective coordination with various stakeholders extremely important.
The main organizer of Youth Festival 2026 is Dhaka University, with the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) serving as co-organizer.
