UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday joined a roundtable discussion on reform proposals participated by representatives of political parties, National Consensus Building Commission and other stakeholders. UN Under Secretary General Rabab Fatima, Bangladesh’s Law Adviser Dr Asif, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed and representatives of other political parties, Prof Ali Riaz, Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Badiul Alam Majumdar and UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Gwyn Lewis were, among others, present at the dialogue held at Hotel InterContinental. Guterres will join another dialogue with youths and a meeting with members of civil society between 2:15pm and 5:15pm at the same venue, an official told UNB quoting his programme schedule. Earlier in the morning, UN Secretary-General Guterres officially opened a new "UN House in Bangladesh" in the city. Industries, Housing and Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan; Environment, Forests and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan and UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Gwyn Lewis were, among others, present. UN chief Guterres opens new "UN House in Bangladesh" The UN chief visited the new UN Common Premises to view the 50th anniversary photo exhibition and joined the official UN flag-raising. The visit followed a meeting with UN Country Team Bangladesh. Guterres and Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain are scheduled to attend a joint press briefing at 5:20pm at Hotel InterContinental. UN chief to join roundtable on reform proposals Saturday  

The United States Agency for International Development-funded Strengthening Political Landscape Program awarded certificates to 23 young political leaders from across Bangladesh at a Young Leaders Fellowship Program (YLFP) graduation ceremony in Dhaka. The graduates are active leaders of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, and Jatiya Chhatra Samaj. This is the 20th class of young leaders graduating from the YLFP. During four months of training, fellows gained a broad knowledge of politics, leadership, democratic practices, conflict mitigation, political party building, and working with the media. So far, 489 young political leaders have successfully completed the programme implemented by Democracy International. The YLFP aims to enhance the political skills of young leaders, advance their careers within their parties, foster empathy for their counterparts in other parties, and create professional relationships that can overcome the polarisation of the political landscape in Bangladesh. At the graduation ceremony, Awami League Cultural Affairs Secretary Sri Ashim Kumar Ukil MP, BNP Information and Research Affairs Secretary Azizul Bari Helal, Jatiya Party Joint Secretary General Golam Mohammad Raju, and Democracy International Chief of Party Dana L Olds presented certificates to the fellows. Read: Mahmuda gets USAID's Laura W. Bush Award Ashim said: "Once I led the student council at Dhaka University. Student politics is a leader-making factory. Democracy International is doing a remarkable job through this programme. I hope DI will continue its university-based training all the time." Helal said: "The politics of this country developed in the background of student politics. An essential aspect of student politics is the campus issues student politicians are working on across the student organisations of political parties with the help of Democracy International." "To be an efficient political activist, you need to acquire political knowledge. The beauty of democracy is showing kindness to all." Raju said: "The situation of sterility, political instability and making student organisations as an incumbent tale of mother political parties that was created in the student politics of the country after the 90s. But the training of Democracy International is helping to reduce this instability." Dana said: "You are the first group composed exclusively of university students. I am impressed with your innovative ideas to address political apathy among youth. You prove it's possible to build relationships across political parties for the benefit of all students."

The Strengthening Political Landscape project financed by the UK and USA, implemented by Democracy International (DI), Sunday awarded certificates to 23 young political leaders from across Bangladesh at a "Young Leaders' Fellowship Programme" graduation ceremony in the city.The graduates are affiliated with Bangladesh Awami League (AL), Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jatiya Party (JaPa).Graduating fellows completed four-month training on different aspects of political leadership, democratic processes, and tolerance.They also implemented joint field assignments solving community issues and demonstrating cross-party cooperation.This is the 15th class of young leaders graduating from the Young Leaders Fellowship Program (YLFP), which is made possible through support from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, and implemented by DI. With the inclusion of these 23 young leaders, 374 fellows matriculated through the programme.At the graduation ceremony AL Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua, BNP Organising Secretary Emran Saleh Prince, Jatiya Party Joint Secretary Golam Mohammad Raju, USAID Deputy Mission Director in Bangladesh Randy Ali, and DI's Chief of Party Dana L Olds handed over certificates to the fellows.The leaders voiced their sincere support for empowering youth leadership in parties to build a more inclusive political landscape in Bangladesh.Dana Olds said: "During the fellowship programme you forged relationships across parties, and worked together to address citizens' priority concerns; and, in the process learned that while you are competitors, you are not enemies."