The New Nation - Internet Edition

Visitors at a stall on the opening day of
two-day-long National Youth Festival at Bangladesh-China
Friendship Conference Centre in the city on Tuesday. NN
photo

UNB, Dhaka

A national youth festival began in the city yesterday to create awareness among the young voters about their rights, responsibilities and future plans to choose their leaders as well as strengthen the country's democracy.

International Republican Institute (IRI) in collaboration with the USAID and some other institutions organized the 2-day festival titled 'Tarunner Mela' at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center.

Election Commissioner Brig General (retd) Sakhawat Hussain inaugurated the festival while eminent writer Imdadul Hoque Milon, IRI country director Jeffery Vanness and National Democratic Institute (NDI) representative Najia Hashemee spoke on the occasion. Sakhawat said the young generation comprising one-third of total voters could play a vital role in holding a best election.