Meaningful citizen participation is essential to building a responsive, inclusive, and citizen-friendly city. With this vision, on 29 August 2026, SERAC-Bangladesh, in collaboration with DDI South Asia, Accountability Lab, and Mymensingh Urban Youth Council organized an Open House Meeting under the CivicConnect: Youth Bridging Citizens and Government project in Mymensingh. The meeting provided a direct and open platform for citizens to share their opinions, concerns, challenges, and recommendations with representatives of the Mymensingh City Corporation (MCC). Youth representatives, urban youth councillors, civil society members, students, professionals, and other community stakeholders came together to discuss local challenges, citizen services, development priorities, and community expectations.

The event was honored by the presence of Mr. Md. Rukonuzzaman Rokon, Administrator, Mymensingh City Corporation, as the Chief Guest. Other distinguished participants included Nahid Hasan Khan, Regional Executive Officer, Zone-2; Sheikh Zahid Hasan Prince, Regional Executive Officer, Zone-1; Manas Biswas, Urban Planner; Zakir Hossain, Executive Magistrate; and Selim Mia, Deputy Director-Program, SERAC-Bangladesh, among others. The participation of City Corporation representatives provided citizens with an important opportunity to communicate their concerns and recommendations directly to the authorities responsible for local services and urban management, creating space for dialogue between communities and local government.

At the heart of the CivicConnect initiative is the Mymensingh Urban Youth Council (MUYC), which is positioned to serve as a bridge between citizens and the City Corporation. MUYC will help facilitate communication, coordinate citizen concerns with relevant authorities, support collaborative problem-solving, and contribute to the follow-up and implementation of agreed actions. Through this bridging role, the in itiative aims to ensure that citizens’ voices do not end with discussion, but are carried forward into coordination, action, implementation, and follow-up.

The Open House Meeting emphasized that effective urban development requires more than simply identifying problems. It requires sustained communication, coordinated action, and shared responsibility among citizens, young people, civil society, and local government. Participants highlighted the importance of creating accessible and effective channels through which citizens can raise concerns, receive information, and communicate directly with the City Corporation. They also emphasized the need to ensure meaningful opportunities for citizens and young people to contribute to local governance, planning, and development discussions. At the same time, participants stressed the importance of strengthening collaboration among citizens, MUYC, civil society, professionals, and the City Corporation so that identified issues can move beyond discussion toward action and measurable progress.

Youth engagement is a central component of CivicConnect. Rather than viewing young people only as beneficiaries or future leaders, the initiative recognizes them as active partners in present-day urban governance. Through MUYC, young people can help connect communities with the City Corporation, communicate citizens’ priorities, facilitate dialogue, support civic initiatives, and follow up on commitments and actions. In this way, the initiative seeks to strengthen the connection between citizen voices and institutional action while creating greater opportunities for young people to contribute meaningfully to the development of their city.

During the meeting, Administrator Mr. Md. Rukonuzzaman Rokon listened to citizens’ views and recommendations and emphasized that active citizen participation is essential for improving public services and building a beautiful, livable, and citizen-friendly Mymensingh. He welcomed the CivicConnect initiative and emphasized that meaningful progress requires the collective efforts of citizens, youth, civil society, and government institutions.

As Mymensingh continues to grow, stronger collaboration among citizens, youth, civil society, professionals, media, and local government can contribute to building a city that is inclusive, responsive, accountable, safe, clean, modern, and livable for everyone. The Open House Meeting reaffirmed that civic engagement is not simply about raising concerns or complaints; it is about creating dialogue, building partnerships, and becoming part of the solutions.