Date: 30th Jan –  6th Feb 2022 (16 – 23 Magh, 2078)

Location: Chittagong, Dhaka, Cox’s Bazar

Organizers: Youth Development Center (YDC) Nepal is a main organizers from Nepal to manage the tour and Youth Development Center (YDC) Bangladesh is co-organizer to coordinate tour locally in Bangladesh. Likewise, team from Bangladesh has plan to visit Nepal afterwards.

About Youth Development Center

Youth Development Center was founded on 2070 BS (2013 AD) by group of self-motivated youth, who came together with the concept to support each other for the development of young peoples in Sunsari. YDC was formed with the aims to empower young people through equal participation on social and economic development process. YDC envisions to enhance the well- being of young groups by managing resources, building capacity, promoting social justice and developing multi-stakeholder partnership.

Youth participation, reproductive health rights, gender & women rights, youth entrepreneurship & community volunteer service are the major theme of organization.

Past Activities

• Nepal Bangladesh Youth Conclave (2017, 2019, 2020, 2021)
• International Youth Policy Conference (IYPC) 2019
• Bhutan-Bangladesh-India-Nepal (BBIN) Youth Camp 2019
• 1^st Bangladesh Exchange Visit 2019
• Global Youth Flash (GYF) 2019
• Nepal India Crosscountry Theatre 2019

Who can be the Team Members?

University Youth, entrepreneur, municipality representative, cooperative activist & social worker.

CONCEPT

Nepal and the People’s Republic of Bangladesh established diplomatic relations on 08 April 1972. The relations between the two countries are based on goodwill, mutual understanding and cooperation. Nepal was the 7^th country to extend recognition to Bangladesh by establishing diplomatic relations as early as 1972. Bangladesh is a one of the upcoming raising economic of the world. Despite the natural calamities Bangladesh has proved his power of strength for world economic. As worlds of the largest readymade garments exporter, building ships and exploring to Europe, upcoming the pharmaceutics etc. is the key indicator of their growth. Keeping a steady growth rate 6 % and effective manpower is making the GDP steady. Innovation effect education for poor’s, development of health care, peaceful social religious friendliness is changing the image of poor Bangladesh to abroad.

The widely practiced cooperative and microfinance revolution was started from Bangladesh. Despite Bangladesh being the poor resource country it has an immense change and improvement in its health care and local government system since its independency. Bangladesh is also the home to some of the breathtaking tourist destinations in the world such as Cox’s Bazar, San Martin Island and so on. In the recent decades, Bangladesh  has set an example for its economic growth through IT revolution and industrial and service sector and improved health care system. 3rd  Bangladesh Study Visit 2022 is an opportunity for the people from Nepal to promote and connect their work, business, culture & tourism in Bangladesh among people & organization from diverse sector.

OBJECTIVES

The study visit aims to provide participants with the opportunity to get to know and compare with own experience, the strategies and practices of the government system, economic and community development, microfinance and cooperative in Bangladesh.

• To acquire a better understanding of the Bangladeshi local government system, economic and community development process.
• To acquire knowledge about the current policies and strategies including best practices of the cooperative and microfinance in Bangladesh.
• To develop new contacts and explore opportunities of cooperation with business personality, cooperative leader, social worker & government officials.
• To visit and acquire knowledge about the best tourist destinations such as Cox Bazaar, sea aquarium-radiant fish world and enjoying recreational and adventurous activities such as Parasailing flying, jet boat riding, Cycling on beachside.

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS OF TOUR

VISIT COX BAZAR AND SEA AQUARIUM – RADIANT FISH WORLD

Cox’s Bazaar is famous for its long natural sandy sea beach. Cox’s Bazaar has the world’s largest unbroken sea beach which stretches more than 120 km. The entire beach is a stretch of golden sandy sea beach which is reachable by motorbike. It boasts of luxurious five-star and three-star hotels some of which are international chain hotels. There are numerous budget-friendly modern hotels, motels and guest houses at cheaper prices. The variety of accommodation options and a wide array of restaurants available today has made it a perfect base to explore magnificent beaches and other natural beauty in and around Cox’s Bazar. There are high-class direct bus/coach services to and from Dhaka and Chittagong. Going by bus or coach will allow you to explore the stunning landscapes of Bangladesh.

Radiant Fish World is the first live fish aquarium in Bangladesh. A vast collection of fresh, brackish and marine water organisms have been installed. 

MICROFINANCE AND COOPERATIVE VISIT

An economics lecturer at the University of Chittagong, Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus developed a microfinance approach to empowering the poorest of the rural poor, particularly women, in Bangladesh in 1976. Muhammad Yunus, won the Nobel peace prize and microfinance become the world’s favorite development idea, the silver bullet that will cure world poverty and spread the wealth-creating force of capitalism across the globe. Microfinance has a beguiling simplicity and a record of success not just in promoting financial resilience but in achieving other social objectives – reaching the excluded, empowering women and developing the capacity of small groups of people to take control of their own lives. Microfinance is now widely used in different parts of the world including Nepal.

ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

Bangladesh has been classed by the United Nations as one of the world’s least developed countries (LDCs) since 1975, but its current trajectory means it is likely to shed that description by 2024.Graduating from LDC status is a sign that a country’s per capita gross national income, human assets, and resilience to economic and environmental shocks are robust enough to enable sustainable development. Bangladesh was 105th in the The Global Competitiveness Report 2019 from the World Economic Forum.

The garment trade that began in Bangladesh in the 1970s is now a $30 billion industry. But the economy is diversifying. The services sector – including microfinance and computing – makes up 53% of the country’s GDP. The success of the IT industry is central to the digital transformation and ongoing economic growth of Bangladesh. It exports nearly $1 billion of technology products every year.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

Local government system in Bangladesh can be categorized distinctly for rural and urban areas. There are now three tiers of Local Government in rural areas as Zilla Parishad, Upazila Parishad and Union Parishad and two tiers in Urban areas as City Corporation and Paurashava. Local government is presently operated by various laws in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh has made lot of strides in the health sector since independence. There is proliferation in health infrastructures – medical colleges, medical university, private medical colleges, private clinics, private hospitals, district hospital, rural health centers and community clinics. Many NGOs are also engaged and contributing toward health care delivery system. Much progress has been made in the pharmaceutical sector providing affordable medicine, intravenous ‑fluids, anti cancer drugs etc. Bangladesh has achieved impressive health gains which make it an example for other developing countries. Over the last decades key health indicators like life expectancy and coverage of immunization have improved significantly while infant mortality, maternal mortality and fertility rates have dropped considerably.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES FROM THE VISIT

• This visit can be the opportunity to acquire the knowledge about the microfinance strategy and practices of Bangladesh and replicate the same to Nepal which could be helpful for the successful practices of cooperative in Nepal.
• This study visit can be a great opportunity to learn about how the transformation of economic growth has taken place in Bangladesh in recent years and those plans and strategies can be replicated here in Nepal.
• This study visit can be a great opportunity to learn about the practice of local government system and transformation of health care system and related laws which can help to boost up the government system and health system in Nepal.
• This study visit can be a great opportunity to establish Nepal Bangladesh tourism connectivity and develop connections and relationships with business personality, cooperative leader, social worker, government officials and so on.

Tour Fee: Rs. 65,000/-

Tour fee covers accommodation, food, transportation & visa process for the delegate per person for seven days by air from Kathmandu.

Application Link: https://forms.gle/Fz2sA6nbHsLBXqoh9

Contact: 9851018425/ ydc.network@gmail.com

1^st Bangladesh Study Visit: It had held on 06-13 December 2019 with the team of 31 members including provincial parliament members, municipality representatives, government officials, students, journalists, social workers & cooperative activists.

Nepal Coordinator: Arun Khadka (YDC Nepal)

Bangladesh Coordinator: Asif Rahman Shaheen (YDC Bangladesh)

Plz, be connected in Facebook page for updates: www.facebook.com/ydc581323

Youth Development Center (YDC)

Minbhawan, Kathmandu

Program Schedule