SM Humayun Kabir

‘I will not commit corruption, I will not accept corruption, I will not tolerate corruption’. ‘We will all build a country together, a corruption-free Bangladesh’. With this pledge of the students, an anti-corruption debate competition was held in Ramu at the upazila-based school-madrasa level. The final round of the anti-corruption debate competition was held at the Bankkhali auditorium of Ramu Upazila Parishad on Sunday (June 22) at 11:30 am. In the final round of the competition held on the topic ‘Corruption is the main obstacle to the development of the country’, the champion of the party, Mansur Ali Sikder High School, emerged as the winner, while the runner-up was the opponent, Machumia Islamia Sunnia Alim Madrasa. The best speaker was selected as the team leader of the debate team of Machumia Islamia Sunnia Alim Madrasa. Chief guest Upazila Executive Officer Md. Rashedul Islam and other guests presented the award crests to the champion and runner-up teams. The award distribution ceremony was presided over by Ramu Upazila Corruption Prevention Committee President Master Mohammad Alam. The guests distributed saplings of fruit and medicinal plants to the 150 students present including the contestants. In his speech as the chief guest, UNO Md. Rashedul Islam said, “We have to restrain ourselves from greed. We have to keep the principles in mind and practice them.” If we don’t keep the principles in mind, if they aren’t ingrained in our minds, then we will turn to corruption whenever we get the opportunity. The idea of fighting corruption must be instilled in the mind. Students must understand from an early age what should be done and what should not be done. UNO Md. Rashedul Islam also said, “We must act with an honest and good mentality in every aspect of life. Corruption is not limited to illegal transactions of money. Things like absenteeism at work, untidy living, and harming others also fall under the category of corruption.” Therefore, everyone must be willing to stand against all forms of corruption. Students must play a leading role in building a corruption-free society and country. Debate is not just a competition, it enhances students’ creativity and skills. It enriches their knowledge base. Debate also dispels darkness and opens doors to possibilities. Ramu Upazila Corruption Prevention Committee General Secretary Khaled Shahid moderated the program, and Anti-Corruption Commission, Integrated District Office Cox’s Bazar Assistant Director Anik Barua Babu, Upazila Secondary Education Officer Md. Nurul Islam Chowdhury, Upazila Engineer Kafil Uddin Kabir, Upazila Project Implementation Officer Debesh Chandra Das, Ramu Government College retired teacher Mohammad Mujibul Haque, Ramu Press Club General Secretary Shoaib Sayeed, among others, spoke as special guests. Master Mohammad Alam, president of the Ramu Upazila Corruption Prevention Committee, served as the moderator for the debate competition. An anti-corruption debate competition was held at the upazila-based school-madrasa level under the theme ‘A new sun will shine with the radiant signature of the anti-corruption oath’, organized by the Anti-Corruption Commission, Integrated District Office, Cox’s Bazar and implemented by the Ramu Upazila Corruption Prevention Committee. Eight secondary schools and madrasas from Ramu Upazila participated in this competition.