Thousands of youths took the vow at the first ever "concert against corruption" organised by the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) at the Gulshan Youth Club.

Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus expressed his solidarity with the TIB movement against corruption.

Prof Muzaffer Ahmad, head of TIB, said, "We want youths who will think for the society and the country and perform their social duties to establish the values of the country's independence."

Former advisers to the caretaker government Sultana Kamal and Hafiz Uddin, Prof Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, Biswa Shahitya Kendra chief Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed and many other civil society members also expressed their solidarity with the initiative.

Several thousand youths attended the eight-hour long concert where around 30 singers--both bands and solo--performed.

"All our advancements since the independence have failed because of corruption and failing to establish good governance," TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said while inaugurating the concert.

He urged the young generation to come forward and stand against corruption. "The youths can play a vital role in the anti-corruption movement," he added.

Urging the youths to hate corruption, Daily Samakal News Editor Mojammel Hossain Manju said the media can tear off the mask of the corrupt if the press is given complete freedom.

Azam Khan, one of the pioneers in establishing band music in the country, urged the youths not to be used by the corrupt.

As part of its ongoing anti-corruption movement, the TIB organised yesterday's concert themed "the youths will resist corruption" to inspire the young generation.

Of the popular bands Feedback, Souls, Renaissance, Miles, Warfaze, Pentagon, LRB, Meghdal, Dalchhut, Face to Face, Arthohin, and Artcell performed in the concert.

Leading bauls from Kushtia, a team of Gambhira--a type of folk music of Chapainawabganj--also participated in the concert and appreciated its concept.

Solo performers of the concert included Azam Khan, Fahmida Nabi, SI Tutul, Hyder Husyn, Shahed, and Mehrin.

The Daily Star, Channel i, Radio Today, Radio Furti, and Bangla Vision cosponsored the concert.

The TIB initiated a project called YES (Youth Engagement and Support) to create awareness among the young generation and create leadership to prevent corruption in future.

YES emphasises on creating possibilities of democracy, good governance and anti-corruption values in the fields of education and professional life of the youths at national and local levels.

It arranges debates, essay-writing and cartoon competitions, and anti-corruption programmes with volunteer groups in 36 areas of six divisions of the country.