Bangladesh’s young people took center stage at a high-level policy dialogue called “Youth Voice for Climate Resilience” at Independent University, where speakers and participants said the country’s climate future depends on youth-led action and local solutions. The CAP-RES Youth Fellowship Programme, run by the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD), gathered youth climate advocates, government officials and development partners to share ideas, plan community projects and build skills for practical adaptation. Prof Dr Hafizur Rahman, ICCCAD focal at IUB, opened the session and praised the energy and commitment of young changemakers, calling the meeting a call to action that should lead to real work in communities. Participants heard from Sanzida Yesmin of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, who urged youth-led awareness campaigns and stronger links between local governments and community groups to tackle problems such as salinity and threats to health. Dr Shah Abdul Saadi from the Economic Relations Division discussed the need for a fair transition and more use of domestic funds for climate work, noting the LoGIC project’s success in 300 unions and suggesting similar youth-centered expansion. Nayoka Martinez-Bäckström from the Embassy of Sweden said learning and local leadership matter most and that many powerful climate solutions are happening in Bangladesh, not only at faraway summits. Speakers stressed locally led adaptation, youth-driven governance and inclusive planning as ways to make programs that fit local needs and last over time. Young people described community projects that mix training, clean water ideas, risk mapping and local art to raise awareness, and they called for more training, mentorship and simple funding to scale up what works. The dialogue encouraged partners to co-create programs with youth, so plans reflect real needs and build trust among schools, local councils and aid groups. Organizers and guests agreed that small, steady projects can grow into large gains if they connect skills, jobs and climate safety, and that youth voice makes policies fairer and more useful. The event ended with a clear plan to keep meeting, build networks across districts and start pilot projects that can be tested, improved and shared. Speakers also highlighted the need to include girls and marginalized groups so that everyone gains skills and a voice in planning, and they urged simple tools such as risk maps, mobile alerts and community training to make plans workable. Youth fellows spoke about peer-to-peer learning, local research and small grants that let communities try ideas quickly. The meeting set a hopeful tone focused on steady change. With youth ready to lead and partners willing to listen, speakers said Bangladesh can strengthen its resilience by turning local energy into practical projects that protect communities and open doors to new skills and opportunities.
