During the three-week exchange, he shared Bangladesh’s youth-led climate and civic initiatives and learned from U.S. models of inclusive governance and climate action. Recognized globally for his activism, Sohanur aims to apply his experience to empower youth leadership and drive a just, sustainable future in Bangladesh and beyond.
Sohanur Rahman, a prominent climate activist from Bangladesh and Executive Coordinator of YouthNet Global, has completed the U.S. Department of State’s prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), held from May 17 to June 7 under the theme “Youth and Community Engagement for the Indo-Pacific, said a press release.
The IVLP is the State Department’s flagship professional exchange initiative, launched in 1940 to promote mutual understanding between the U.S. and future global leaders. Participants, nominated by U.S. embassies, have included heads of state, Nobel laureates, and cabinet ministers.
Sohanur, 28, joined selected emerging leaders from across the Indo-Pacific for a three-week tour across major American cities, including Washington, D.C., Raleigh, Charlotte, Albuquerque, and Seattle. The program included high-level meetings with U.S. government officials, civil society leaders, local governments, and community-based organizations.
During the exchange, Sohanur presented Bangladesh’s youth-led civic innovations, including a climate emergency campaign that triggered parliamentary engagement, the EcoMen initiative promoting gender-inclusive environmental action, and the Y-Just movement for an equitable green transition.
“This was an incredible honor and a transformative opportunity,” Sohanur said. “Representing the voices of Bangladeshi youth on a global platform has deepened my commitment to inclusive governance and climate justice.”
He also learned from American models of youth leadership in policy-making, equity-centered climate action, and public-private partnerships addressing social inequities.
Sohanur’s participation comes on the heels of his recognition as a Laureate of the Young Activists Summit at the United Nations in Geneva in late 2024. His involvement in IVLP highlights Bangladesh’s growing influence in global youth diplomacy and strengthens people-to-people ties between the two nations.
As founder of YouthNet Global, Sohanur has led campaigns to stop coal-fired power plants, promote renewable energy, and advocate for climate justice and gender equity. YouthNet now operates in over 50 climate-vulnerable districts across Bangladesh, including Kurigram, Satkhira, Bagerhat, and Barishal.
Internationally, Sohanur has represented Bangladesh at key global forums, including the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), the New Global Financial Pact Summit, and multiple UN climate summits (COP26 to COP29). His advocacy continues to spotlight climate-induced displacement, youth participation in policy, and the need for loss and damage finance.
“This journey reaffirmed my belief that youth leadership is central to addressing today’s most pressing challenges,” he said. “Now it’s time to take what I’ve learned and build a more just and sustainable future—starting at home.”
