CA Urges Youth to Hone Skills for Effective Policymaking

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today spoke at the State Guest House Jamuna.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has urged the younger generation to develop a deep understanding of policymaking as a continuous and adaptive process, stressing that the success or failure of any venture depends largely on the strength of its policy framework.

He made the remarks while meeting the winners of the National Policy Competition 2025, organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, at the State Guest House Jamuna.

The winning students, representing nine universities and one medical college, shared their competition experiences and presented their policy proposals during the interaction.

Professor Yunus congratulated the winners, highlighting their achievement as a reflection of intellectual rigor and competitive excellence.

"You are sitting in the Cabinet Room—the place where top-level policy discussions occur. Today you debate in simulations, but someday you may occupy this same room as real policymakers," he said.

He emphasized the importance of sound policy formulation, noting that even projects with large budgets and manpower can fail if policies are flawed.

"A right policy ensures alignment and success, but a wrong policy can undermine all efforts," Yunus said.

He explained that policies are not static and must evolve with changing circumstances.

"Policies should be adjusted to remain relevant. A policy created once cannot stay effective forever if the world around it changes," he said, urging students to view policymaking as both a professional and personal exercise guiding life goals.

Drawing parallels between national and personal decision-making, he added, "Just as governments and businesses need policies, individuals also need their own frameworks to reach their goals. Flexibility is key as situations evolve."

Professor Yunus praised the Ministry of Youth and Sports for organizing the competition, calling it a valuable exercise in leadership and civic responsibility.

"This is not a trivial event; it is significant. These experiences will prepare you to make wise policy decisions in the future," he said.

He also acknowledged all participants, not just the winners, encouraging future contestants to learn from their predecessors’ experiences.

"Keep practicing, debating, and analyzing policies. As citizens and owners of this country, it is your duty to stay alert and speak out when policies go wrong," Professor Yunus concluded.

Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain and Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy Lutfey Siddiqi were also present.

The National Policy Competition 2025 was held across nine universities and one medical college, with one winning team from each institution, including East West University, ULAB, Chittagong University, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka University, North South University, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Rajshahi University, and Shahjalal University of Science and Technology.