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Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon has said young people are the main driving force behind the development of a new civilisation in an era of rapid technological change.
“With the knowledge and experience of the past, it is difficult to address the new challenges emerging every day in the evolving ecosystem, particularly with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). Therefore, every country has a responsibility to equip its youth with the right knowledge and skills,” he said.
The minister made the remarks while addressing an event at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Wednesday to mark International Youth Day 2026.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs jointly organised the event, which was held under the theme “2026 — Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.” State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque chaired the programme.
Speaking as the chief guest, Swapon said the unprecedented advancement of technology, particularly AI, is a major blessing for human civilisation but has also created entirely new challenges.
“The evolution of technology and knowledge is taking place so rapidly that it is difficult to predict what comes next,” he said.
He noted that knowledge was no longer fixed or static but was constantly evolving. Against this backdrop, he said, the older generation should recognise that young people possess the greatest natural capacity to adapt to the emerging technological ecosystem.
Emphasising the need to strengthen youth skills, Swapon said technology-driven challenges were being added to longstanding problems such as employment, food security, natural disasters and climate change.
However, he said a comprehensive institutional framework for providing young people with knowledge and skills related to emerging technologies had yet to take full shape globally.
International organisations, including the United Nations, should therefore give greater attention to developing and transferring new knowledge and skills, keeping young people at the centre of the process, he said.
Referring to the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Swapon said various government initiatives demonstrated the premier’s confidence in the capabilities and potential of the country’s youth.
The government is taking positive and forward-looking measures to promote sports, encourage creativity and engage young people in addressing global challenges, including environmental protection and climate change, he said.
Young entrepreneurs, students, youth representatives from different professions, senior officials from the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and foreign guests attended the event.
