Dhaka, Feb 17 (V7N) – The month-long, 20-day 'Youth Festival 2025', aimed at energizing the youth for building a new Bangladesh, is set to conclude on Wednesday, February 19.

The Chief Advisor's Press Wing released a statement on Monday, highlighting the festival’s theme: "Come, let's change the country, let's change the world." The event, which began on December 30, 2024, was celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country.

The festival focused on unity, cooperation, and self-employment, motivating youth from rural and urban areas to contribute to the nation’s development. It provided a platform to showcase latent talents, create awareness, and promote social, economic, and environmental values.

Over 71,66,473 youth, including 2,742,171 women and 4,424,302 men, participated in 13,711 events held across various upazilas, districts, and divisions. Among these, 2,931 events were sports and cultural programs exclusively for women.

The Sports Directorate organized Under-17 football tournaments at various levels, featuring 855 matches for girls, with 25,600 participants. The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) conducted a range of football-related activities, including:

  • Football competitions for tea workers and Khasia communities (Sylhet)
  • Beach football tournament (Cox’s Bazar)
  • U-15 football tournaments in all 64 districts
  • Amputee football festival
  • Training for underprivileged female footballers in three hill districts
  • Football festival in Sirajganj's char areas
  • Friendly football match with young diplomats in Dhaka

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) also played a key role, organizing:

  • Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and BPL Music Fest
  • National School Cricket Tournament (350 schools)
  • Inter-University Cricket Tournament (56 universities)
  • Zero Waste Campaign at BPL venues

Additionally, other sports federations organized archery, taekwondo, and kabaddi competitions, while local communities engaged in traditional rural games such as Kabaddi, Dariabandha, Bauchi, Gollachut, and Kite Flying Festivals.

  • Cultural and Educational Activities
  • Beyond sports, the festival featured:
  • Debate competitions, essay writing, quiz contests, and storytelling sessions
  • Science quizzes, programming contests, wall magazine publications
  • Folk cultural programs, Pitha festivals, and Nazrul Sangeet evenings
  • Book reading, poetry recitations, and digital literacy campaigns
  • Health awareness programs on breast and cervical cancer
  • Winter clothing distribution, tree planting, and cleanliness campaigns

The festival was widely celebrated in universities, with youth entrepreneur fairs, case competitions, nutrition Olympiads, cultural evenings, and concerts at institutions like Dhaka University.

Additionally, 80 Bangladesh missions abroad hosted celebrations with the participation of expatriate Bangladeshis.

The event was executed under the direct supervision of the Chief Advisor’s Office, in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and coordinated efforts from 25 ministries and divisions, 23 offices, and various organizations.

The festival officially began on December 1, 2024, with a logo unveiling and media launch, led by Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan, Advisor to the Ministry of Youth and Sports and Convener of the National Committee for the Celebration of the Youth Festival.

Through this coordinated initiative, the Youth Festival 2025 successfully inspired young people across all regions and backgrounds, reinforcing their role in shaping a better Bangladesh.

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