2024 · DUET
Champion
Inter University Debate Competition
Opening speech
About me
I joined the Dhaka University Debating Society as a general member in June 2021. I didn't know many people, and I wasn't a strong speaker yet. Five years later I'm its President, working with 18 hall clubs, 81 department clubs and more than 5,500 members.
Most of what I've done since then has been about one thing. Plenty of students in Bangladesh finish university with a certificate but without the confidence to speak, argue or lead. Debate fixed that for me, so I've spent my time trying to open the same door for others, through workshops, reading circles, career sessions and festivals.
Outside debate I founded a welfare fund for students at Surja Sen Hall who can't afford meals or exam fees, and I teach street children with the Navodham Foundation. My research looks at how Bangladeshi migrant workers are protected, or left unprotected, on the labor corridors to East and Southeast Asia. I plan to continue that work in a Master's in Development Studies.
Substantive
Leadership
2021 to now
Dhaka University Debating Society (DUDS)
President since June 2026 · Organizing Secretary 2025 · Member since 2021
- Ran a national debate workshop for 500 DU students and skill workshops for 1,000 more.
- Co-organized the DUDS and ActionAid National Debate Festival, 26 and 27 September 2026.
- Leading a full Bangla debate manual covering every format, for schools and colleges in remote areas.
- Secured sponsorship from Vision Bangladesh to refit the society's room.
- Organized a public panel discussion at TSC on the July uprising and Bangladesh's democratic transition.
2024 to 2025
Surja Sen Bitarka Dhara (SSBD)
General Secretary
- Organized the 13th Surja Sen Memorial Debate Festival together with the club's silver jubilee, 1 to 4 January 2026.
- Started regular reading circles and a career guideline series for debaters.
- Made a documentary of the jubilee and worked on the design of the annual magazine, Arko.
Founder
Surja Sen Welfare Foundation
Founding President
- Helps hall students pay for meals and exam fees, and gives interest-free loans.
Current
Navodham Foundation
Advisor
- Teaching street children and helping plan the foundation's work.
2025
Department Debating Club
Vice President
Point of information
Debate record
Five years on the circuit, in three roles: on the floor as a speaker, behind the scenes as an organizer, and on the panel as an adjudicator.
I
As a speaker
Titles won2023 · Surja Sen Bitarka Dhara
Champion
Intra Hall Debate Search
2022 · Department Debating Club
Runner-up
Intra Department Debater Search
II
As an organizer
8 tournaments organized- 26 to 27 Sep 2026DUDS and ActionAid National Debate Festival 2026Host, as President of DUDS. Theme: Building Bangladesh. Held at TSC, University of Dhaka.
- 2026UNDP and DUDS Dhaka IVLead, Volunteer Wing. A two-day university tournament with 48 teams, 24 in Bangla (Asian Parliamentary) and 24 in English (British Parliamentary). The final was held at InterContinental Dhaka with Information Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan as chief guest.
- 2026DUDS and Dhaka Ahsania Mission National Debate FestivalChief Coordinator.
- 1 to 4 Jan 202613th Surja Sen Memorial Debate FestivalOrganizer, as General Secretary of SSBD. Held together with the club's silver jubilee.
- 2025DUDS Alumni Get-togetherOrganizer.
- 2025SSBD Intra Hall Debater SearchChief Coordinator.
- 2025Intra Department Debater SearchChief Coordinator, Department Debating Club.
- 2025National Debate WorkshopCoordinated a workshop for 500 Dhaka University students, as Organizing Secretary of DUDS.
III
As an adjudicator
On the judging panel- 2026Invited adjudicatorJudged rounds at a national debate festival.
Evidence
Research
Governing the Corridor
Presented at the 1st RCASBC International Conference, University of Chittagong, September 2026
A study of how Bangladeshi migrant workers are protected along the labor migration corridor to East and Southeast Asia, and where the gaps in that protection lie.
Three more papers in progress.
On the record
Writing
সনদ আছে, দক্ষতা নেই: বাংলাদেশের উচ্চশিক্ষার সংকট
From the floor
Gallery
Beyond the floor
Civic work and training
- 22 Apr 2026Youth awareness seminar on human trafficking and migrant smuggling, held by DUDS with BRAC.
- 12 Feb 2026Election observer at polling centres in Dhaka-7, 8, 10, 13 and 15.
- TrainingThree-day residential Human Rights Defender training by Odhikar, supported by the Embassy of Switzerland.
- TrainingSix-month computer diploma, Bangladesh Technical Education Board.
Background
Education and skills
University of Dhaka
Honours, session 2020 to 2021. Graduated 2025 with a CGPA of 3.60.
Next step: a Master's in Development Studies.
Languages and tools
Bangla (native), English (fluent), Arabic (reading and writing).
Public speakingEvent managementFundraisingMS OfficeCanvaCapCut