Mansur Pabna Correspondent: A lively inter-school debate competition aimed at promoting anti-corruption awareness among young people was held in Pabna on Saturday in a festive and enthusiastic atmosphere.

The day-long event was jointly organised by the Pabna District Committee for Prevention of Corruption and the Integrated District Office of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) at the VIP auditorium of the Pabna Press Club.

Speakers at the programme called upon the younger generation to take an active role in preventing corruption and building a transparent and accountable society.

Students from various secondary schools across the district participated in the spirited competition. After a closely contested debate, Square High School and College emerged as the champion, while Pabna Collectorate Public School and College secured the runner-up position. Sheikh Mumit Mahmud, a student of Pabna Collectorate Public School and College, was named the Best Debater.

Additional District Magistrate of Pabna Liton Dhali attended the prize-giving ceremony as the chief guest and distributed crests among the winners.

Earlier in the day, the competition was inaugurated by Dr Monowar Ul Aziz, President of the Pabna District Committee for Prevention of Corruption.

The opening and award distribution ceremonies were presided over by Dr Monowar Ul Aziz and moderated by the committee’s General Secretary ABM Fazlur Rahman. Special guests included ACC Assistant Director Sadhan Chandra Sutradhar, Pabna Press Club President Akhtaruzzaman Akhtar, General Secretary Zahurul Islam, Pabna Newspaper Council General Secretary Shahidur Rahman Shahid, former Pabna Reporters’ Unity General Secretary and Executive Editor of Dainik Bibriti Kazi Mahbub Morshed Babla, and committee member and Bangladesh Mahila Parishad Pabna District President Advocate Kamrunnahar Jolly, among others.

The event was moderated by Dr Monchur Alam, President of the Sahitya Debate Club, Pabna.

The judging panel comprised SM Farid, Associate Professor of Chemistry at Government Edward College, Ziaur Rahman, Assistant Professor at Joragacha Degree College, and retired government official and poet Begum Firoza Khan. Several members of the district anti-corruption committee and local journalists were also present at the event.