Jahid ikbal : On February 27, the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) hosted its “IPYG Monthly Diary Meet Up” via Zoom, bringing together 38 participants, including youth organization leaders and members from India and Bangladesh. The event focused on sharing IPYG’s strategic vision for 2026, introducing upcoming initiatives, and formalizing new partnerships aimed at strengthening youth-led peacebuilding efforts.

India and Bangladesh, both known for their diverse multi-religious and multicultural social landscapes, continue to face challenges related to community coexistence and social integration. While youth populations in both countries are rapidly growing and digital connectivity is expanding, gaps in interreligious understanding and socioeconomic inequalities remain significant. In response to these realities, IPYG is actively working to build a sustainable peace network through regular international platforms that encourage dialogue, cooperation, and trust among young people.

The online meeting commenced at 10:00 PM and lasted approximately one hour. The program featured a review of IPYG’s January–February activities and global developments, a screening of an activity video, commemorative remarks highlighting the organization’s mission, a partnership signing ceremony, guidance on the Youth Engaged in Peace Contribution (YEPC) program, and a group photo session.

A major highlight of the event was the partnership signing ceremony, during which nine new organizations officially established cooperation with IPYG—one from India and eight from Bangladesh.

The organizations joining the partnership included The Indian Ploggers Army from India, represented by Founder Nagaraj G. From Bangladesh, the participating organizations were Kutupalong Buddhist Social Welfare Council (Rashel Barua), Law and Rights (Turjoy Chowdhury), Chandradip Development Society (Samia Ali Anna), Alternative Initiative for Development (Pramanando Gharami), Satsanga Pallikallyan Samity NGO (Nares Madhu), Bangladesh Shibalee Humanity Foundation (Banarup Barua), and Supti Mohila Unnayan Sangstha (Jhimi Mondal).

Speaking at the event, Nares Madhu, Executive Director of Satsanga Pallikallyan Samity NGO, emphasized that peace is the most essential and fundamental element for development. He noted that lasting global peace can only be achieved when peace is first nurtured at the individual, family, community, and national levels. He also suggested organizing regional meetings to strengthen grassroots collaboration among partner organizations.
Turjoy Chowdhury, Founder of Law and Rights, stated that the partnership represents more than a formal agreement; it symbolizes a shared commitment to promoting justice, human rights, and youth empowerment. He expressed confidence that collaboration with IPYG’s international youth network will help cultivate responsible and capable young leaders.

Jhimi Mondal, Founder of Supti Mohila Unnayan Sangstha, highlighted that sustainable global peace must begin with practical action at the grassroots level. She pledged that her organization would conduct detailed community surveys to better identify and address local challenges related to peace and development.

Meanwhile, Nagaraj G, Founder of The Indian Ploggers Army, expressed optimism about the initiative, noting that the gathering of diverse participants from different countries reflects a strong global commitment to peace. He added that collective action and collaboration will lead to meaningful and lasting results.

Through this event, IPYG strengthened its collaborative foundation with partner organizations while also providing participants with guidance on the Youth Engaged in Peace Contribution (YEPC) program and upcoming activities scheduled for March. Moving forward, IPYG plans to establish offline working groups and expand participation in the YEPC initiative to further enhance sustainable peacebuilding efforts across India and Bangladesh.