YPSA, as the secretariat of the Global SDG Youth Summit 2025, successfully organized the 1st Divisional Youth Consultation titled “From Divisions to Decisions: Youth Consultations for Agenda 2030 and Beyond” on 7 September 2025 at Bangladesh Shishu Academy, Chattogram. The event brought together vibrant representatives from 35 youth organizations who actively engaged in discussions, shared perspectives, and put forward recommendations to shape the Agenda 2030 and Beyond.
The program began with registration, networking, and the national anthem, followed by an inspiring opening session. Dr. Md. Arifur Rahman, Founder and Chief Executive of YPSA, delivered the welcome speech, while Omar Faruk Joy, Representative of BAYA, unveiled the vision, purpose, and pathway of the Global SDG Youth Summit 2025.
The first thematic session focused on Youth Engagement in Migration, Displacement, and Social Cohesion. Moderated by Setar Rudra, Program Officer, YPSA, the panel featured Md. Abdus Sabur, Assistant Director, YPSA; Dr. Md. Morshed Hasan Molla, Climate Displacement Expert; Mosleh Uddin Suchok, Coordinator, BAYA; and Afra Nawar Rahman, Youth Coordinator, YPSA.
The panel highlighted that more than 120 million people globally are currently displaced, with over one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Discussions centered on how youth can play a vital role in fostering peace, resilience, and social harmony in such challenging contexts. YPSA’s ongoing initiatives with displaced and host communities were shared, along with expert insights on climate-induced displacement, mental health, and youth-led innovation for social cohesion.
Breakout group discussions and plenary presentations allowed participants to delve deeper into local realities and propose inclusive solutions.
The second thematic session, Gender Justice Begins with SRHR: Youth-Led Awareness and Advocacy for Equality, was moderated by Farhana Idris, Assistant Director, YPSA, and featured distinguished panelists including Dr. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Civil Surgeon, Chattogram; Prof. Dr. Rakiba Nabi, Department of Law, University of Chittagong; Nasim Banu, Director, Social Development, YPSA; and Omar Faruk Joy, Coordinator, BAYA. The discussion highlighted pressing issues around sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), including accessibility in rural and marginalized areas, challenges in addressing child marriage, and cultural barriers affecting young people’s health and rights. Panelists stressed the importance of legal reforms, youth-led advocacy, and the use of digital platforms for awareness building.
Participants actively engaged in group discussions to share practical recommendations for ensuring SRHR services, strengthening awareness at the community level, and advancing gender justice through youth leadership.
The consultation concluded with a policy dialogue led by Mosleh Uddin Suchok, Coordinator of BAYA, and closing remarks by Md. Abdus Sabur, Assistant Director, YPSA. The program ended with lunch and networking, fostering stronger collaboration among youth participants and organizations.
The Divisional Youth Consultation in Chattogram became a vibrant platform for amplifying youth voices, addressing challenges around migration, displacement, and gender justice, and charting pathways toward a more inclusive, equal, and sustainable future. Through meaningful dialogue and collective action, young people once again demonstrated their potential as changemakers driving the spirit of Agenda 2030 and Beyond.
