Tales of BD youth delegation in India

Bangladesh Youth Delegation is a flagship programme conducted under the International Youth Exchange between the Government of India and the Government of Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Youth Delegation programme started in 2012 as a joint initiative by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. This year 2024 marks the ninth edition of the Bangladesh Youth Delegation's visit to India. Since its inception, the programme has provided opportunity to nearly 800 Bangladeshi youths to visit India and participate in various activities that aim to promote cultural exchange, leadership development, and fostering goodwill and mutual understanding between the two neighbouring countries.

This year, before embarking on the eight-day-long visit to India, a flag-off ceremony was organised at the High Commission of India in Bangladesh at Baridhara, Dhaka, in the presence of 100 youth delegates of 2023. The High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, flagged off the delegation on February 21, 2024. He expressed his conviction in the ability of the vibrant and dynamic youths of Bangladesh in building closer ties between the two countries, and establishing strong bonds of friendship based on mutual respect and understanding. The writer was one of the 100 delegates selected from applicants all over Bangladesh in 2023.

This year's group of delegates comprised 50 males and 50 females from diverse backgrounds including students, doctors, researchers, engineers, young journalists, news presenters, entrepreneurs, agriculturists, social workers, dancers, singers, live entertainers and representatives from voluntary organisations. The participants for this youth delegation were selected from leading institutions/organisations of Bangladesh such as Dhaka University, BRAC University, Bangladesh Agricultural University, North South University, Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Jagannath University, Chittagong University, Rajshahi University, Dhaka Medical College, etc.

The visit, scheduled from February 25 to March 03, 2024, aimed to provide the Bangladeshi youth with an enriching experience encompassing academic, research, tourism, industrial, film and cultural facets of India. Therefore, the travel itinerary was specifically designed to provide a glimpse into the rich and diverse heritage of India. The delegates have directly engaged in different interactive sessions and explored various domains, from infrastructure development to eco-tourism and information technology. During the visit, the delegates also interacted with key personalities and institutions in India belonging to the government, academia, business, civil society, and socio-cultural domains. On the other hand, the delegation also visited places of historical, cultural, commercial, and technological significance in India.

The most significant part of this delegation was meeting with the President of India, Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. She believes that the presence of the Bangladesh youth delegation in India demonstrates the enduring spirit of cooperation and friendship that defines India-Bangladesh ties. By promoting the exchange of ideas, fostering cultural, political, and economic relations, this initiative will contribute to regional cooperation and global peace, she added.

Another significant meeting of the delegates was with Nitesh Kumar Mishra, joint secretary of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and Periasamy Kumaran, special secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs at Jawaharlal Nehru Bhavan, New Delhi. They both focused on improving the friendship, goodwill, respect, and bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India. Shri P. Kumaran specifically addressed some areas like G20 presidency in 2023, bus and railway services, Matarbari deep-seaport, digital payment system, comprehensive eco-partnership, development partnership, cross-border electricity and largest worldwide visa operation. He emphasised open and constructive dialogue to develop the future partnership between both nations.

The delegates have also paid a visit to Maharaja Bhavan, Mumbai, Maharashtra. The Governor of Maharashtra, Ramesh Bais expressed his gratitude to the delegates to visit India to heighten mutual harmony, friendly relationships, and a sense of cooperation between the citizens of India and Bangladesh. He also disclosed how Mumbai is becoming the great industrial and Bollywood city for India.

The youth delegates have also visited the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi, embracing the spirit of unity and athleticism. They had an enthusiastic Q&A session with famous double trap shooter Ronjan Sodhi who shared his valuable insights on sportsmanship and teamwork from his life experience.

Focusing on the educational and research sector in India, the delegation of 2023 visited the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay, which is recognised worldwide as a leader in the field of engineering education, cutting-edge research and innovative courses, currently one of the top leading institutes among the 23 IITs in India. The next visit in this category was at the Advanced Center for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH), Mumbai, a pioneering institute in cancer treatment, research, and education in India. It also has a state-of-the-art research and development wing, the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), located in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. They enjoyed an interactive presentation by Dr Prasanna Venkatraman, the deputy director of ACTREC for Research and Education in Cancer. One of the main goals of this institution is to discover indigenous medical technology that will reduce the cost of cancer treatment for the poor economic background of society. Youths have visited different labs where appointed professors briefed us about the technology and the method of operation with cancer cells.

Bangladesh Youth Delegation to India 2023 has also been remarkable for visiting the UNESCO World-heritage site, the Taj Mahal of Agra, located on the right bank of the Yamuna river. Next, they explored the Red Fort of Delhi, which historically served as the royal residence of the Mughal emperors.

The next stop was the famous film city, Mumbai. There were different kinds of sets, made for shooting TV serials, popular TV reality shows like Big Boss, The Kapil Sharma Show, etc. The touring guides described how shootings take place, which technology they use, how many Bollywood movies have been projected, which superstars have come here, etc. UNESCO declared Mumbai as the Creative City of Films at the launch of the single-window cell for Filming Permissions in Maharashtra in 2019.

Furthermore, the delegation visited the Gateway of India situated on the Apollo Bunder overlooking the Arabian Sea in South Bombay. Apart from these scheduled visits, they visited local markets like Cannaught Place, Janpath Market, Colaba Market, and Sarojini Nagar Market to introduce themselves to their local products. The greatest accomplishment of Bangladesh Youth Delegation was that, despite the hundred members' different origins from Bangladesh, they were all so well-acquainted with one another that the trip felt like a family reunion to them. Throughout the course of their journey, they also got to discuss each delegate's unique potential and made unforgettable memories that they will remember for years.

As part of the Bangladesh Youth Delegation 2023, youths felt proud to represent Bangladesh in India. This type of youth delegation is truly meaningful in strengthening the bonds between the youths of both nations.The delegation extends its appreciation to the Government of India for consistently hosting this delegation program since 2012. Through this initiative, top delegates are chosen to immerse themselves in India's rich historical, educational, technological, and industrial heritage, providing them with a valuable and enriching experience.

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