A significant roundtable discussion on youth political awareness, the upcoming national elections and the challenges of the digital era was held in Chattogram. Organized by Youth Voice of Bangladesh, the event took place on Wednesday, 4 February 2026, from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Zilla Parisad Auditorium, Chattogram.
Titled “Youth, Election and Digital Challenges,” the roundtable brought together 150 students from various universities across the country, alongside media professionals, researchers, political analysts, and emerging young leaders. A total of 24 speakers participated in the discussion. Speakers were selected under four designated categories: Governance and Public Service; Education and Academia; Law and Judiciary; and Media and Journalism.
Under the Governance and Public Service category, speakers included the Honorable Mayor of Chattogram City Corporation, Dr. Shahadat Hossain; Political & International relations and Security Analyst Major (Retd.) Rezaul Karim; Director of Chattogram Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Baby Hasan; and Founder President of Nari Oikko Bangladesh (NOBA), Jesmina Khanam.
In the Education and Academia category, speakers included Founder of East Delta University, Sayeed Al Noman; Vice Chancellor of Port City International University, Professor Dr. Mohammad Taiyab Chowdhury; Vice Chancellor of BGC Trust University Bangladesh, Professor Dr. Md. Manjurul Kibria; Treasurer of Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Professor Dr. Zaynul Abedin Siddiqui; and Member of the Board of Trustees of Chittagong Independent University, Dilruba Ahmed.
Under the Law and Judiciary category, speakers included Deputy Attorney General Barrister Mohammad Osman Chowdhury; President of Chattogram District Bar Association, Advocate Md. Abdus Sattar; General Secretary Advocate Hasan Ali Chowdhury; Former President Advocate Nazim Uddin Chowdhury; Public Prosecutor of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Advocate Rezaul Karim Rony; Special Public Prosecutor of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal, Advocate Saiful Abedeen; Additional Public Prosecutor Advocate Eshadur Rahman Ritu; and young politician and lawyer Barrister Faisal Dastagir.
In the Media and Journalism category, speakers included Poet and Political Analyst Rezaul Karim Rony; Chattogram Bureau Chief of The Daily Ittefaq, Salauddin Reza; Investigative journalist and documentary filmmaker Keramat Ullah Biplob; Chattogram Bureau Chief of Ajker Patrika and General Secretary of Chattogram Journalists’ Union, Sabur Shuvo; Bureau Chief of Chattogram Pratidin, Ayan Sharma; and News Head of CTG Post, Ishat Mannan.
The discussion featured in-depth and analytical deliberations on the role of youth in the present and future electoral processes, the misuse of artificial intelligence, the risks of deepfake technology, misinformation, and the growing impact of online propaganda on social media platforms. The session was moderated by Shibli Al Sadik.
The event was chaired by Barrister Tareque Akbar Khondakar, Chairman of Youth Voice of Bangladesh. In his presidential address, he cited the example of the Arab Spring, noting that during 2010–2011, social media-driven mass movements led to regime changes in countries such as Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen, underscoring the powerful influence of digital platforms.
Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain stated that a significant number of new young voters have recently been added to the electoral roll. He emphasized that their active participation is crucial for ensuring a free, fair and credible election. He urged new voters to exercise their franchise by attending polling centers and casting their votes. He also cautioned against misleading and false information circulating on social media, advising citizens not to believe or share any information without proper verification.
Speakers highlighted the importance of raising awareness among young voters about their electoral rights, improving digital literacy, promoting the ethical use of technology, and developing effective strategies to counter rumors and disinformation. They stressed that without accurate information and informed participation, a free and credible election cannot be achieved.
The organizers stated that the primary objective of the roundtable was to strengthen democratic values among the youth and to contribute positively toward building a responsible and justice-based future.
