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১১ জুন ২০২৫, ১২:২৪ অপরাহ্ণ
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Sohan Completes Prestigious IVLP

Desk Report: Sohanur Rahman, a prominent youth advocate from Bangladesh and Executive Coordinator of YouthNet Global, has recently completed the prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), the U.S. Department of State’s flagship professional exchange initiative. Organized under the inter-regional theme “Youth and Community Engagement for the Indo-Pacific,” the program convened rising leaders from across the Indo-Pacific region for a comprehensive three-week exchange in the United States.

The IVLP, launched in 1940, fosters mutual understanding and long-term cooperation between the United States and emerging international leaders. More than 230,000 participants including heads of state, Nobel laureates, and cabinet ministers have taken part in the program since its inception. Participants are selected exclusively through nominations by U.S. embassies around the world.

The three-week professional exchange program, which took place from May 17 to June 7, 2025, began in Washington, D.C., with official engagements at the U.S. Department of State, and extended across several U.S. cities, including Raleigh and Charlotte in North Carolina, Albuquerque in New Mexico, and Seattle in Washington State. Participants took part in high-level dialogues, site visits, and collaborative learning sessions with U.S. policymakers, civic institutions, local governments, and nonprofit leaders.

In November 2024, Sohanur was recognized as a Laureate of the Young Activists Summit at the United Nations in Geneva for his outstanding contributions to civic and environmental movements. The U.S. Mission in Geneva served as a co-partner of the summit. Sohanur’s participation in the IVLP not only amplifies the potential of young Bangladeshi leaders but also strengthens people-to-people ties between Bangladesh and the United States. His journey demonstrates the power of youth-led public diplomacy and the importance of investing in grassroots changemakers to foster global cooperation, equity, and sustainability.

During the IVLP program, Sohanur shared insights from Bangladesh’s recent youth-led civic initiatives, including the climate emergency campaign that prompted parliamentary action, the EcoMen initiative that redefines men’s roles in environmental stewardship, and the Y-Just campaign advocating for a fair and inclusive green transition. He also discussed youth engagement in movements for democratic reform and accountability.

In exchange, he learned about American models of youth leadership in public policy, climate justice efforts for marginalized communities, and innovative public-private partnerships that uplift underserved youth.

Reflecting on his experience during IVLP, Sohanur Rahman said, “This was an incredible honor and a transformative opportunity. Representing the voices of Bangladeshi youth on a global platform was deeply meaningful. Through this exchange, I’ve connected with inspiring changemakers across the Indo-Pacific and the United States. I am returning home with new strategies and renewed energy to empower youth leadership in our communities.”

He added, “This journey reaffirmed my belief that youth leadership is central to addressing today’s most pressing challenges from environmental stewardship to inclusive governance. Now it’s time to take what I’ve learned and continue building a more just, democratic, and sustainable future starting here at home.”

Sohanur, aged 28, is widely recognized for his dynamic leadership in promoting democracy, environmental protection, and youth empowerment in Bangladesh. He is the founder of YouthNet Global, a pioneering youth-led network that advances climate justice, democratic accountability, and gender equity. Under his leadership, YouthNet has played a key role in halting proposed coal-fired power plants and promoting renewable energy transitions across Bangladesh, while also working with boys and men to foster gender-transformative environmental stewardship.

YouthNet Global operates in more than 50 districts including Kurigram, Satkhira, Bagerhat and Barishal areas particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The youth-led organization is also known for its grassroots work on wetland restoration, community resilience, and rural youth engagement in national policy discourse. Here is the polished and professional version of your news paragraph:

Sohanur Rahman has represented Bangladesh at several high-level international conferences, including the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London in 2018, the New Global Financial Pact Summit in 2023, and the Nutrition for Growth Summit in 2025 in Paris. He has also served as an official youth delegate at key United Nations Climate Change Conferences—COP26, COP27, COP28, and COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan as well as the SB60 climate talks in Bonn, Germany. Across these global platforms, Sohanur has consistently amplified the voices of frontline youth and climate-impacted communities, advocating for a just transition, climate justice, locally led adaptation and loss and damage financing. His interventions have spotlighted urgent issues such as climate-induced displacement, youth participation in policymaking, and gender-transformative environmental action, reinforcing Bangladesh’s leadership in the global response to the climate crisis.

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