9th Share-Net Bangladesh Annual Knowledge Fair focuses on YouthPower 2024: Nothing Without Us
The future of the country is shaped by its youth, and no plan is complete without them
03 October 2024, Dhaka, Bangladesh: Share-Net Bangladesh successfully held its 9th Annual Knowledge Fair 2024 at Hotel Sheraton, Banani, Dhaka on October 3, 2024. This year’s theme, “YouthPower 2024: Nothing Without Us” brought together government officials, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) experts, university professors, media professionals, university students, and foreign delegates to address SRHR for Youth and Adolescents. Dr. Halida Akhter Hanum, Chairperson, Share-Net in Bangladesh (SNBD) Steering Committee presided over the inaugural session of the day-long conference. Arnob Chakrabarty, Project Director of Share-Net Bangladesh and Managing Director of RedOrange Communications gave the welcome speech of the conference.
The 9th Share-Net Bangladesh Annual Knowledge Fair 2024 was jointly presented with Asian University for Women (AUW) as the ‘Academic Partner’. The event was organised by RedOrange Communications, the host organisation of Share-Net in Bangladesh.
The Share-Net Knowledge Fair is a prestigious yearly conference of professionals, practitioners, academics, researches, activists and others aimed at promoting awareness about SRHR through knowledge sharing, dialogue, and collaboration. More than 300 participants, from country and abroad, with a significant number of youths, attended the Fair.
Mr. Md. Saifullahil Azam, the Director General of the Directorate of Family Planning under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said in his speech as Chief Guest: “The youths are the one who shapes the future. So, without their participation and the consideration of their needs no plans can be successful. He suggested the youths to protest against social discrimination, injustice, and oppression, and to demand equality, justice, and rights. He expressed his desire for a healthy and empowered life for all people in the country, including the youth. At the beginning of his speech, he paid homage to the martyrs of the July-August uprising. “
Dr. Vibhavendra Raghuvanshi, Chief of Health, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Bangladesh, said in his speech as a Special Guest – “Ensuring public healthcare and achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG-3) on health is not possible without the proper knowledge and awareness about sexual and reproductive health and rights”. He also said, “to create a positive environment for
raising awareness among the youth about the sexual and reproductive health, government’s support is crucial.”
Mr. Thijs Woudstra, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh, said in his speech as a Special Guest, “Bangladesh’s economy is expanding rapidly, yet the need of the youth is not met. In Bangladesh’s development, particularly in areas of healthcare, gender equality, and climate action, young people should not only be beneficiaries but also active participants.
In the closing ceremony, Mr. Dr. Bernd Spanier, Deputy Head of EU Delegation to Bangladesh, said in his speech – “Now it’s a different country, as now we have youth representation in the government. We want the youths to keep their voice high to get their rights”
In her concluding remarks, Dr. Halida Akhter Hanum, said, “This is the high time, we must focus on the marginalized adolescents and youths who are physically challenged, sexually assaulted, refugees or live in the remote areas.
As part of the largest SRHR platform in country, Share-Net Bangladesh aims to bring together all stakeholders for open discussions and collaborative action. It bridges gaps, strengthen efforts, and ensure a more unified and impactful approach to advancing SRHR for youth and adolescents.
This year’s Knowledge Fair featured a diverse range of sessions: a plenary session, several thematic sessions, research paper presentations, a parallel Regional Conference, poster presentations, stall exhibitions, workshops, and more.
The fair ended by presenting the Share-Net Bangladesh SRHR Recognition Award 2024 in three categories for those who have contributed to the SRHR field for years: the ‘Lifetime Achievement Recognition’ was given to Dr. Yasmin Hemayet Ahmed, Independent Consultant, Advisor, Bangladesh Health Watch; the ‘Community Award’ was given to Julia Ahmed, Independent Consultant; and the ‘Youth Award ‘ was given to Tajkia Mariam Jahan, Executive Board Member, SERAC Bangladesh, for their tremendous contribution in the field of SRHR.
Among the other prominent guests present at the event were Professor Dr. Abu Naser Zafar Ullah, Vice Chancellor, RTM Al-Kabir Technical University; Dr. Mohiuddin Ahsanul Kabir Chowdhury from Asian University for Women (AUW); Dr. Sushmita Ahmed and Farhana Jesmine Hasan from Ipas Bangladesh; Dr. Mohammad Zahirul Islam, Swedish Embassy; Jan Swillens and Mushfiqur Satiar from Embassy of Kingdom of the Netherlands; Biplob Barua from the Directorate of Family Planning; Mahmuda Sultana, Oxfam in Bangladesh; Barrister Golam Morshed Jr. Shaan; Mahbuba Kumkum of MDF.
