Your Story Matters: UNFPA Bangladesh Launches International Youth Day Writing Competition
Every generation leaves its mark through stories. Some stories inspire change, while others challenge society to listen. This International Youth Day, UNFPA Bangladesh is inviting young people across the country to do exactly that by sharing their ideas, hopes and lived experiences through writing.
Built around the global International Youth Day 2026 theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” the competition encourages young people to reflect on what they need to live meaningful lives and contribute to building a more inclusive and sustainable Bangladesh.
The competition welcomes submissions in English or Bangla under three categories:
• Essay (maximum 400 words)
• Tiny Story (150 to 200 words)
• Poetry
Participants must be Bangladeshi citizens or residents of Bangladesh aged 15 to 24 years, and only individual submissions will be accepted.
UNFPA Bangladesh encourages writers to align their work with its core values, including:
• Youth empowerment
• Gender equality
• Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)
• Bodily autonomy
• Inclusion and human rights
• Dignity and leaving no one behind
The Top 10 submissions will be featured in the UNFPA Bangladesh Youth Zine and promoted through the organisation’s website and social media platforms. Three outstanding writers will receive prizes, while all eligible participants will receive digital certificates.
The submission deadline is 5 August 2026.
Participants should remember that originality is essential. AI-generated or substantially AI-written content is not permitted. Entries must also be unpublished and free from plagiarism, hate speech or misinformation. Selected works may be edited for grammar and publication consistency while preserving the author’s original message.
Sometimes, change begins not with a policy, but with a story. By creating a national platform for young writers, UNFPA Bangladesh is encouraging a new generation to express their aspirations and become part of conversations that shape the country’s future.
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