Youths discuss, negotiate and debate on current issues

It was a dream of every student of Rajshahi University to arrange an international Model United Nations (MUN) conference in Rajshahi. In MUN conferences students participate as the delegates of different member countries of United Nations (UN). They form committees in which the participants discuss, negotiate and debate on various current global issues. Finally they all come to a resolution paper on the basis of a specific agenda. On 21st April, 2016, this dream came true. For the first time Rajshahi University Model United Nations Association (RUMUNA) organised an International MUN conference in Rajshahi University, named "Rajshahi University Model United Nations - 2016".

The duration of this conference was four days, starting from 21st April to 24th April, 2016. About 170 students from different educational institutions participated in this conference. The participating universities were Rajshahi University, Dhaka University, North South University, BRAC University, Bangladesh University of Professionals, East West University, Asian University for Women's, Chittagong University, Leading University of Sylhet, Noakhali University of Science and Technology, Rajshahi Science and Technology University, Rajshahi College, Rajshahi Medical College and Comilla University.

 Vice-chancellor of Rajshahi University Dr. Mohammad Mizan Uddin was present in the inaugural ceremony as the chief guest. Prof. Dr. M. Saidur Rahman Khan (Former Bangladesh High Commissioner, UK) and Prof. Dr. Md Shah Azam (Advisor, RUMUNA) of Rajshahi University were present as special guests. The chief guest, special guests and the Secretary General of RUMUN'16 Mr. Arafat Hasan delivered their speeches and officially started RUMUN'16. The conference theme was "Protesting Terrorism, Securing Civil Rights". There were four committees including UNHRC, UNSC, UNHCR and the INTERPOL where the agendas were selected for the delegates in line with the theme. There were 16 awards for the best performers of 4 committees and a participation certificate for every participant. A team of 35 organisers and secretariat board members of RUMUNA passionately worked behind it and made it a successful conference.

On the closing ceremony, the chief guest was Vice-chancellor of Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology Dr. Md. Rafikul Alam Beg.While delivering final  speech, the Secretary General Arafat Hasan thanked and invited everyone to participate in RUMUN-17.

RUMUNA promised to organise such conference in future in Rajshahi University.

The writer is a 4th year student of Population Science and Human Resource Development at Rajshahi University, [email protected]