An extraordinary opportunity has emerged for young graduates and emerging researchers in Bangladesh to directly engage with the national parliamentary system, legislative procedures, and policymaking research. As part of implementing Sustainable Development Goal 16—'Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions'—the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat have jointly initiated the Parliament Young Fellowship program. This pilot initiative aims to make the activities of the Jatiya Sangsad more dynamic through data-driven research and modern information management.
Under this fellowship program, selected young researchers will be contracted for six months. The primary workplace for the selected fellows will be the Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat located in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka. There, they will directly participate in various parliamentary committees, legislative processes, and policy research tasks. This provides the younger generation with practical experience in contributing to the policymaking level, which will play a significant role in their future professional careers.
Regarding eligibility, any Bangladeshi citizen over the age of 18 is welcome to apply for this fellowship. From an educational standpoint, candidates must hold a bachelor's degree in Law, Public Administration, Business Administration, Parliamentary Studies, Economics, Development Studies, Political Science, or any discipline within the Social Sciences. Notably, prior work experience is not mandatory, making it an encouraging prospect for fresh graduates.
However, applicants must possess specific competencies. Candidates are required to be fluent in both written and spoken communication in Bengali and English. Furthermore, proficiency in research presentation, Microsoft Office applications, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools is highly emphasized. The activities of the selected fellows will be closely supervised by UNDP Bangladesh project managers or analysts alongside senior officials of the Parliament Secretariat.
This initiative is expected to serve as a milestone in closely familiarizing the country's youth with the processes of parliamentary democracy and good governance. Through this, the Parliament Secretariat will benefit from modern research and data support, while young minds will gain the rare experience of working alongside the nation's top lawmakers.
