As high as 50.9% of online and 41.4% of in-person participants have advocated for the interim government to stay in power for at least 1-3 years, highlighting the urgent need for state reform, according to the Youth Matters Survey-2024.

The Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center (BYLC) conducted the survey across the country between October and November last year and the findings were unveiled on Monday.

A total of 3,238 participants – 1,575 in-person, and 1,663 online – responded to the survey which gathered insights from young people on education, health, livelihoods, climate change, justice, democracy, governance, peace and justice, access to information, and their future aspirations.

Abul Khayer Shajib, BYLC manager (research, monitoring and evaluation) presented the survey results at the BYLC office.

Among young people aged 18 and above, 95.5% in the in-person survey and 95.7% in the online survey expressed optimism about voting in the upcoming election.

The survey finds that improving the quality of education stands as a top priority for youth.

Among the respondents, 71% of in-person and 86.4% of online participants believe that student politics obstructs proper learning environment on campuses, while 77.4% of in-person respondents feel that Bangladesh’s education system adequately prepares students with the necessary skills for employment while 79.3% of online respondents feel the contrary.

Regarding peace and order, 20.9% of in-person respondents and 54.4% of online respondents expressed doubts, while 25.3% of in-person and 70% of online respondents felt that the country has failed to ensure women's safety.

The rising cost of living was a growing concern, with 75.1% of in-person respondents and 64.8% of online respondents identifying it as detrimental to their mental and physical health.

Awareness of climate change has also grown, with 55.1% of in-person and 73.1% of online respondents recognising its adverse effects.

In the in-person survey, 86.4% of young people believed communal harmony prevailed in Bangladesh, while only 39.2% of online respondents shared this view. On the other hand, 24.5% of online respondents were uncertain about the state of communal harmony in the country.

In the in-person survey, 68.6% and in the online survey, 84.9% of young people believed that law enforcement agencies should not show any bias towards a particular political party.