President calls for optimum use of country’s demographic dividend

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today (1 November) called for the optimum utilisation of the country’s demographic dividend.

“The largest segment of the country’s population is its youth. This is known as the demographic dividend. It is a great asset and opportunity for the country, and making the best use of this opportunity will bring us success,” he said.

The President made the remarks while inaugurating the National Youth Day-2026 at a programme held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital today.

He said Bangladesh is still a least developed country (LDC) but is expected to graduate from the LDC category and become a developing country. The preparation period for the transition has been extended by another three years.

“During this period, we must develop the necessary capacities to ensure that Bangladesh remains competitive after graduating from the LDC category,” he said.

The country’s youth can play the most significant role in this process, the President said, adding that they are the principal driving force of the future and that the responsibility for building that future rests in their hands.

He said young people must be made employment-oriented to move Bangladesh forward, while the driving forces of production and the economy must be placed in their hands.

“A country cannot progress solely through political revolution or change; it must also be built,” he added.

Mirza Fakhrul also highlighted the various contributions and initiatives of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia towards youth development.

Reaffirming the current government’s commitment to the development of the country and its youth, the President said young people must be brought to the forefront and given a leading role in every aspect of nation-building.

He said the youth must be involved in all spheres of the country’s development and progress, and no obstacles should stand in the way of national development or efforts to improve the lives of young people.