The spirit of ‘Let’s change the country, let’s change the world’ resonated in Ottawa during Bangladesh High Commission’s Youth Fest event titled ‘Conversation with Bangladesh-origin International Students in Canada’ on 26 February 2025 at the High Commission premises.
Bangladesh High Commission in Canada, in partnership with the University of Ottawa Bangladeshi Students’ Association, hosted the second edition of the “Conversation with Bangladeshi-origin Youth in Canada” as part of the Youth Festival 2025. The event brought together emerging professionals, Bangladeshi-origin international students, and policymakers for an in-depth discussion on the skills, strategies and leadership pathways that will shape the next decade.
The Special Guest Atiq Rahman, Assistant Deputy Minister, Employment and Social Development Canada, made a compelling presentation on Canada’s evolving job market, highlighting technology, healthcare, finance and green energy as high-growth industries and emphasized the increasing importance of adaptability, communication, and leadership skills that transcend sectors and define professional success.
A panel discussion, moderated by High Commissioner Nahida Sobhan, sparked conversations on career advancement and the professional challenges unique to Bangladeshi-origin youth. The panel featured young Bangladeshi-origin professionals working in Canada’s public and private sectors – Atiq Rahman of Employment and Social Development Canada, Tahsin Ahmed of Public Health Agency of Canada, Nadira Begum of iA Financial Group and Zarin Hasan of University of Ottawa. Together, they offered practical insights on navigating the emerging career paths and leadership roles in public and private sectors of Canada. The discussion also highlighted the ways forward to tackling the challenges of transitioning from international students to working professionals and career progression in leadership roles in the spirit of July-August uprising in Bangladesh. Panelists also underscored the importance of networking and actively reaching out to mentors and industry professionals, emphasizing that connections and continuous learning are key to career growth and leadership success.
High Commissioner Nahida Sobhan praised the indomitable spirit of Bangladesh’s youth and hoped that they would continue to be the agents of change in our nation-building efforts and international development with their bravery, strength, acumen, and ingenuity drawing the inspiration from the 2024 July Uprising.