BYMUN 2017 - lessons in diplomacy, international relations

Bangladesh Youth Model United Nation (BYMUN) 2017, a Model United Nations (MUN) for all, took place from December 21 to 23. The MUN Conference was held at Saint Joseph Higher Secondary School in Mohammadpur, Dhaka.

BYMUN was hosted by the Bangladesh Model UN club, also known as BMUNC. Model United Nations, also known as Model UN or MUN, is an educational simulation and academic activity in which students can learn about diplomacy, international relations, and the United Nations. Through attending Model UN, students also gain a lot of knowledge of the outside world. MUN is also an ECA or extra-curricular activity, where students roleplay as delegates of the actual United Nation. MUNs are usually organised by schools, universities or youth clubs.

CEO of BMUNC, termed the organisation 'Exemplary, targeting inclusivity for achieving something extraordinary'.

BYMUN had 15 committees in total. It includes a United Nation Security Council and a Historical committee named the Historical Security Council. Similar to actual proceedings of UN, each committee other than the International Press had an agenda on which the delegates would have a discussion for three days and then later prepare a resolution which would contain the solutions for the agenda.

Renowned corporate leaders such as Faraaz Rahim, Head of International Business, Rahimafrooz Ltd, Syed Almas Kabir, Chief Executive Officer, Metronet Bangladesh and Wahid Hossain, Founder and CEO, Tiger Bow attended the event as special guests.

The special guests had given speeches that had left the crowd inspired and motivated for the rest of the conference. Then finally at the very end, Mashruba Binte Maksud, the Secretary General of BYMUN, officially declared the inauguration of Bangladesh Youth Model United Nation.

The secretariat board were full of people who made sure that the delegates have a good time at the conference. They took care of the hospitality, documentations, delegates affair and etc. Without the secretariat board, the conference would not even have taken place.

After a full day of super hectic committee sessions, the first day ended with a delegate fiesta where delegates from many committees performed. The second day started with committee sessions, while the committee sessions were full of blame games and discussing solutions, there were crisis in all committees.

The crisis in MUNs works like a test, which determines the overall performance of the committee. The crisis is usually a sudden problem, which contains certain points on which the delegates must work on and provide the solutions within a given day. The crisis is the most tiring thing to deal with during a conference, as it puts all the delegates in a sudden shock.

The second day, was the most engaging of all, as it was full of committee sessions and crisis, but overall it taught the delegates many things and it taught them how to be diplomatic even in sudden problematic situations.

The last and final day of the conference, day three started with a usual committee session but during the last two sessions, the delegates worked restlessly on their draft resolution. The draft resolution contained all the solutions for the agenda that were discussed throughout the three days of the MUN.

In every MUNs, once the delegates had presented their draft resolution to the committee, it is voted on, and if it gets most of the vote, the draft resolution turns into a resolution and it passes. All the committee at BYMUN were able to present objective and fruitful draft resolutions, thus the majority of the committees were able to make their resolution pass via the voting process.

The day ended with the closing ceremony where the delegates of BYMUN had the honour to hear speeches from Najmus Ahmed Albab, Chief Executive Officer, Lighthouse Bangladesh; Minhajul Haque, Managing Director, Prottoy Medical Ltd and Shoron Rahman Head, English Media Wing, Prime Minister's Office.

Later the award ceremony took place, where the most hardworking delegates from each committee got an award for their work. The executive board, who acted as heads of each committee, received their crests for taking the responsibility of making sure that their committee delegates do not return home without learning about pressing issues and diplomatic ways of solving crisis.

Right after the award ceremony, Secretary General declared Bangladesh Youth Model United Nation over. BYMUN 2017 gave the participants not only a great learning experience but also served as a platform to form new ideas and teamwork among the youth delegates.

The writer is a high school student at Excel Academy, Dhaka. She can be reached at

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