Dhaka, Dec. 13 -- Speakers at a programme on Saturday expressed concern over rising unemployment and an increasing number of people living below the poverty line in Bangladesh, warning that the trends signal deepening socio-economic challenges.

They also identified mob behaviour and entrenched political culture as major obstacles to democratic reconstruction and employment generation.

The observations came at an open forum discussion titled "Democratic Reconstruction on Youth Employment" held at the CIRDAP (Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific) Auditorium. The event was organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) and moderated by its President Zillur Rahman.

BNP Standing Committee Member Dr Abdul Moy...