Debate and Essay Contest Held in Paikgachha to Promote Honesty

A debate and essay competition, discussion meeting and award ceremony were held Monday at Paikgachha Upazila Parishad auditorium organised by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to raise awareness among students and encourage honesty.

The event was jointly arranged by ACC's Khulna Integrated District Office, the Upazila Administration and the Upazila Corruption Prevention Committee.

Upazila Executive Officer Wasiuzzaman Chowdhury attended as chief guest, while Committee President and Head Teacher Rahima Akhtar Shampa presided. ACC Deputy Assistant Director Md. Rubel Hossain and Acting Upazila Secondary Education Officer Roksana Parveen were special guests.

Students from 16 secondary schools took part. In the debate's semi-finals, Shaheed Kamrul Secondary School beat Kapilmuni Sahchari Vidya Mandir in Group A while Kapilmuni Meherunnesa Girls' School beat Paikgachha Government Girls' High School in Group B. In the final, Kapilmuni Meherunnesa Girls' School defeated Shaheed Kamrul Secondary School to become champions. Tanushree Dey of Shaheed Kamrul Secondary School was named best speaker.

In the essay competition, Group A saw Afra Tabassum Ishi (Paikgachha Govt. Girls' High School) place first followed by Maymuna Jannat (Laxmikhola Collegiate School) and Rashi Sadhu (Kapilmuni Sahchari Vidya Mandir). In Group B, S.M. Sajedur Rahman placed first, Tasnim Akhter Tanni (Kapilmuni Meherunnesa Girls' School) second and Md. Shakib Al Hasan (Laxmikhola Collegiate School) third.

Judges included Assistant Professor G.M.M. Azaharul Islam, retired Upazila Education Officer Bidyut Ranjan Saha and five others. Local officials, teachers and students also attended.