They also urged the World Bank (WB) and other donor agencies to continue to extend their support for poverty alleviation and other development projects.

The Brac and the World Bank have jointly organised the national workshop on 'World Development Report (WDR), 2007 -- Voice of the Youth -- Findings from Consultation in Bangladesh' at the Brac Centre Inn at Mohakhali in the City.

Addressing the inaugural session as the chief guest, State Minister for Youth and Sports Fazlur Rahman Patal said the young generation of the country are contributing a lot to the development sector, but more training facilities are needed to improve their skills.

"We need more financial support from the WB and other development partners so that the government can provide extensive training for the young generation," he added.

Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, executive director of Brac, said the overall development of the country depends on the active participation of the youth in the national economy.

The government should consult with the young generation while formulating the development policies, he added.

Presenting a research paper on 'Voice of the youth: Synthesis of youth consultations in Bangladesh', Tariq Omar Ali, senior research associate of Research and Evaluation Division of Brac, said the major policy demands articulated by youths are flexible schooling -- so that school work can be combined with income earning activities -- and part-time work for university student -- so that they can support themselves in higher education.

Dr AK Mahbubul Alam, secratary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, attended the concluding session as the chief guest while Arifur Rahman, chief executive of Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), Dr Jiban R Majumder, deputy chief of General Economics Division of Planning Commission, and SM Waliur Rahman, director general of Department of Youth Development, spoke at the sessions.