Leadership is a lifelong practice, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan has said, urging young graduates of Bangladesh Youth Leadership Centre (BYLC) to regard their training as the beginning of their journey and continue preparing themselves every day.

He was speaking as the chief guest at BYLC’s 2026 graduation ceremony for its Building Bridges through Leadership Training (BBLT) programme and its junior edition, BBLTJ, held on 29 September, 2026 at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh in Dhaka, according to the press release.

Supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the programmes brought together 521 graduates from Bangla-medium, English-medium and madrasah backgrounds. Their parents, invited guests and other stakeholders also attended the ceremony.

Participants completed intensive training in the theoretical and practical aspects of leadership, critical thinking, problem-solving and communication.

“I commend BYLC for developing the leadership skills of Bangladesh’s next generation. But remember, this training is not the end of your journey. It is the beginning. Leadership is a lifelong practice, so keep preparing yourself every day,” Moyeen said.

Netherlands Ambassador to Bangladesh Joris van Bommel, who attended as the guest of honour, emphasised the role of collaboration in addressing shared challenges.

“The challenges of our time require leadership. We must equip young people with the skills to work together, adapt, and lead meaningful change,” he said.

State Minister for Planning Md Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki, who attended as a special guest, encouraged young people to commit themselves to the public good.

“There is more to life than ourselves. Leadership begins when we put the collective interest before our own. That is the leadership I hope these graduates will practise in the years ahead,” he said.

BYLC Founder and Executive Chairperson Ejaj Ahmad highlighted three key challenges facing Bangladeshi youth: climate change, artificial intelligence and a tribal mindset.

“In a distracted world, the work of leadership is to pay disciplined attention to the issues you care about. Use AI, but never outsource your thinking to it. The future will belong to those who can still think for themselves,” he said.

As part of the programmes, participants completed “Leadership in Action” projects, applying critical thinking, communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills to address challenges in their communities.

The organisers highlighted the growing importance of these human skills as young people navigate a world shaped by artificial intelligence and mounting climate challenges.