Governance apprenticeship
Youth Policy Forum Governance Apprenticeship (YPF GA) is an advocacy initiative that plans to create an inclusive platform for exchanging knowledge between the youth of the country and the various stakeholders involved in the policymaking and governance system of Bangladesh. This initiative encourages and nurtures young minds to learn about nation-building and statecraft from the GA mentors who are members of parliaments (MPs), political leaders, and bureaucrats and provides them with the opportunity to work with governmental, non-governmental and international organizations and understand the core issues of public policy affecting us. Each mentor has a YPF team who support them with expertise ranging from field research to writing policy briefs and highlighting the specific issues of interest.
Current Mentors
AHSANUL ISLAM TITU, MP
Mr. Ahasanul Islam Titu is an MBA graduate from Pittsburgh State University. He is an Awami League Member of Parliament from Tangail-6. He has served as the Vice President of Bangladesh Insurance Association, Founding President of Dhaka Stock Exchange Brokers Association of Bangladesh, and the President of Dhaka Stock Exchange. He is a member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts. His YPF GA team is developing policies for the private sector, healthcare sector, and constituency development.
MA MANNAN, MP
M A Mannan is the incumbent Minister of Planning. He is a veteran civil servant, having served as the State Minister of Finance, Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office, Director General of the NGO Bureau, Joint Secretary of the Home Ministry and the DC of Kishoregonj District. At YPF GA, his team is working on developing policies for improving public procurement, addressing cost overrun, and more.
M NAWSHAD ZAMIR
M Nawshad Zamir (Barrister Lincoln’s Inn 1999 and Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh 1996), is the International Affairs Secretary at BNP. He has worked as legal adviser to commercial entities and banks (including Islamic banks), insurance companies, IT firms, telecom companies, shipping companies. He acted as a Specialist Contract Adviser to the Infrastructure Investment Facilitation Company(IIFC). In addition to his court practice, Nawshad regularly conducts international arbitration.
NAHIM RAZZAQ, MP
Nahim Razzaq is the incumbent Member of Parliament from Shariatpur-3. He is a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, and has previously served in the Standing Committees on Youth and Sports, and Disaster Management and Relief. As the Founding Convener of Young Bangla, he is a staunch advocate for Youth Engagement. His YPFGA team is working on Rohingya Advocacy, Environmental Policy, anti-Gender Based Violence, and Foreign Policy.
SABER HOSSAIN CHOWDHURY, MP
Saber Hossain Chowdhury is a veteran politician. He is the incumbent Member of Parliament from Dhaka-9. He served as the 28th President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the first Bangladeshi to hold this post. He was also the Organizing Secretary of the Awami League. As the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Environment, Forests & Climate change – his apprentices from YPF GA are conducting focused research on environmental policies such as Renewable Energy, Urban Biodiversity, and more. He also has a YPFGA team working on Budget Overrun.
SHAMEEM HAIDER PATWARY, MP
Barrister Shameem is now the Presidium member, and Additional Secreatry General of the Jatiya Party and a Member of Parliamemt (MP) from Gaibandha-1. Apart from his political role, he is the head of the chamber of Patwary Jurist and Associates. He serves as the Chairman of DIU and ten other vocational and charitable educational institutes across the country. His YPFGA team is conducting research on Judiciary Reform, Discrimination in Resource Allocation, and GBV.
TABITH AWAL
Tabith Awal is a Central Committee Member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and was the Mayoral Candidate of the Dhaka North City Corporation Election 2020. His political manifesto focused on combating mosquito menace, traffic congestion and pollution, improving public transport and waste management. His GA team is working on the critical loopholes existing in the current education system of Bangladesh and recommending solutions on how the young minds of this country can be more engaged for their individual and economic progression.
TANVIR SHAKIL JOY
Tanvir Shakil Joy is a Bangladesh Awami League politician and a Jatiya Sangsad member representing the Sirajganj-1 constituency.
Currently he is serving as the chairperson of Climate Parliament Bangladesh and member of the JS Committee on Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry. His GA team is mostly focused on preparing deliverables mostly related to Climate Change and Climate Change Induced Migration.
MAHJABEEN KHALED
Mahjabeen Khaled is a distinguished Bangladeshi politician of the Bangladesh Awami League party and a former Member of Parliament (MP). She serves as the Secretary General for Bangladesh’s Parliamentarian Caucus on Migration and Development and is a strong advocate of equal rights for migrant workers, their families, and the vulnerable communities. In her career, she has been actively involved in various development agencies and has always been a vocal activist for human rights, interfaith harmony and economic development. Under her guidance, YPF GA team works at the intersection of Safe Migration and Environment, in an effort to enact and monitor inclusive policies for all.
RANA MOHAMMAD SOHAIL, MP
Rana Mohammad Sohail is a Jatiya Party politician and the incumbent Member of Parliament of Nilphamari-3. He served as a commissioned officer in the Bangladesh Army before moving to the United States of America (USA) where he pursued an MBA in Energy Finance from the University of Texas at Austin. His team at YPF GA works on researching and advocating for better living conditions for underprivileged children in the communities.
ZONAYED SAKI
Zonayed Saki is a politician, a Firebrand who’s voice is known throughout the nation. He is the Chief Coordinator of Ganosamhati Andolon Bangladesh. He was a candidate for the 1st mayoral election of Dhaka North City Corporation. As an advocate for Democracy, he is working with his YPFGA apprentices to conduct research on Democratic Institutions, Gender Based Violence, and more.