South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM), in collaboration with ActionAid Bangladesh, organized a roundtable discussion titled “Youth in Transition: Navigating Jobs, Education and Changing Political Scenario Post July Movement” on 7 July 2025, at BRAC Centre Inn, Mohakhali, Dhaka. The event was chaired by Dr Selim Raihan, Executive Director, SANEM and Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka. Ms Farah Kabir, Country Director, ActionAid Bangladesh was the special guest of the event.
This event served as a platform to disseminate the findings from the first phase of the nationwide study titled “Youth Survey 2025: Tracking Perceptions on Reforms, Skills, Jobs, and Education”. The findings of the survey was presented by Ms Shafa Tasneem, Research Associate, SANEM. The roundtable brought together academicians, development practitioners, policymakers, and youth representatives to engage in dialogue around these findings and explore strategies to build a more inclusive, responsive, and youth-centered policy framework.
Targeting youth of 15-35 years, the first round of this household survey was carried out between 20-31 May 2025, covering all eight divisions of Bangladesh and reaching 2,003 youths. To make it nationally representative and socially inclusive a balanced gender ratio, equal ratio between rural and city-dwellers, 40 percent representation of youth with below SSC level education and a Non-Muslim youth representation of more than 10 percent were maintained. The survey used an enumerator-based in-person data collection approach and to add more depth and authenticity, the study included case studies that documented personal stories and challenges faced by young individuals, thereby offering greater credibility and humanizing the data.
The study was set to assess the status quo of youth across the country and evaluate their perceptions of job market preparedness, aiming to identify the gaps between education and employability. Furthermore, it brings into careful consideration how the youth perceive the direction, inclusiveness and effectiveness of political, social and institutional reforms following the July Movement with an aim to identify the priority areas as pointed out by the youth. Ultimately, the research intends to amplify the demands and aspirations of the youth population so that they may be meaningfully considered by policymakers and relevant authorities.
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