The endangered future of our youth and what we must do

Not long ago, a Facebook post shook me. A Bangladeshi man in France shared that he earned EUR 169—more than BDT 21,000—after driving Uber for 12 hours. He wrote with pride, saying that this is the reason he had risked his life "crossing the sea". In his mind, that backbreaking shift was worth more than a whole month's struggle in Bangladesh.

That story carries the bitter taste of truth. But should risking your life on a dark sea ever be the price of dignity? To him, it seemed the only path. But deep down, we know that this is not the future our youth deserves.

So, the question burns: what future are we offering our young people?

Graduates with prized degrees roam without work. Those who do find jobs are underpaid, undervalued, and crushed by frustration. No wonder driving for minimum wage abroad feels like success. No wonder more than half of our youth dream of leaving the country.

The Next Generation Bangladesh 2024 report by the British Council shows that 55 percent of our youth want to go abroad for study or work. Around 42 percent worry about unemployment.

Tell me, how long can a nation survive like this? And if they do go abroad, are the youth destined only to drive cars and wash dishes? Is that the sum of their talent and ambition? Absolutely not. Our youth are not meant for scraps. They are meant to lead, create, and compete at the highest levels of the global economy.

Yet, right now, too many young people are simply stuck. A report by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) shows that 40 percent of Bangladeshi youth are "inactive", meaning that they are not in school, not working, or not involved in any sort of job training. Among young women, that number climbs past 60 percent. Numbers like these should break our pride into pieces.

We often boast of the "demographic dividend". We talk about our youth as our strength. But what good is a dividend if we don't invest it wisely? What good is a dream if it ends in despair?

The root of the problem lies in our education system. It produces degrees, but not the skills employers seek. Thus, so many graduates have to sit idle. That is why the best minds pack their bags and leave the country.

The solution is not charity or blind hope. The solution is upskilling—real, work-ready skills, alongside education that matches the market. We need classrooms that prepare students not for unemployment, but for contribution.

At Washington University of Science and Technology in the US, we were able to build this model. It is simple but powerful. Students don't just memorise; they practice. They learn from professors who are also industry experts, bringing years of real-world experience straight into the classroom.

Why is this urgent? Because the world has already changed. Entry-level jobs are vanishing, swallowed up by AI. Generative AI agents now do the simple tasks that once gave millions a living. Survival now demands higher-level skills. Only those who master the new tools will thrive.

Bangladesh cannot wait. We need a revolution in our universities. AI, machine learning, big data, cybersecurity, cloud, fintech, green energy, digital health, creative media, etc.—these must be our frontlines. If we do not prepare, we will be left behind.

From my two and a half decades of experience, the key sectors Bangladesh must prioritise include AI—Agentic AI, Computer Vision, and NLP; machine learning and deep learning—predictive analysis; automation data science and big data; IT and software development—programming and cybersecurity; cloud computing and DevOps; FinTech and digital finance; digital marketing and content creation; healthcare and medical technology; green energy and environmental technology; and so on.

Imagine a Bangladesh where every graduate leaves not just with a certificate, but with skills that employers trust. Where students build personal brands online, speak fluent English, and connect with the global marketplace. Where they don't chase jobs, but create them through innovation, entrepreneurship, and courage.

This is not a fantasy. With the right changes, the 3.4 million students under our National University system alone could become the greatest workforce engine in South Asia. Give them direction, training, and hope, and they will build a new Bangladesh with their own hands.

And I believe with all my heart that our youth is not a burden. They are not statistics. They are a storm of energy, a force of dreams, and a river of possibility. They are the spark that can set this nation ablaze with progress.

The government now faces a choice. They can let despair fester, or they can light the flame of trust. They can open the door of hope. If they choose the latter, our youth will rise not as job seekers, but as leaders. Not as wanderers, but as world citizens.

The future of Bangladesh cannot be written with fear and uncertainty. It is waiting in the hands of our youth. Give them the skills and faith, and watch them transform this nation into one that doesn't just survive but leads.

The author is the Chairman and Chancellor of Washington University of Science and Technology, Virginia, USA.

Views expressed in this article are the author's own.