As part of the multifaceted programs undertaken to mark the International 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence and World Human Rights Day 2025, a Youth Debate Competition was organized today, Monday, 8 December at 3:30 PM, at the Anwara Begum–Munira Khan Auditorium of the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) Central Office.
The Training, Research, and Library Sub-Committee and the Organization Sub-Committee of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad jointly organized the event.
The debate was moderated by Dr. Fauzia Moslem, President of the Central Committee of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad. The judges included Maleka Banu, General Secretary of BMP; Shima Moslem, Joint General Secretary; Saraban Tahura, secretary of Publications; and Dr. Farhana Afroze, Associate Professor, Department of Public Administration, Jahangirnagar University.
The motion of the debate was:
“Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain was not merely a social reformer, but a pioneer of the women’s movement.”
Speaking for the motion were:
• Marwa Jannat Maisha, student of Ideal College, Dhanmondi, and member of BMP’s Mass-Media and International Sub-Committee
• Mahmud Khalid, student of the Department of Criminology, University of Dhaka, Research Assistant, and Chief of Dhaka University Writers’ Hub
• Arnab Roy Partho, Master’s student of the Department of Political Science, University of Dhaka, and Joint General Secretary of Dhaka University Debating Society
Speaking against the motion were:
• Mubina Akter Mun, student of the Department of Criminology, University of Dhaka, member of Dhaka University Research Society and Naripokkho
• Umme Fatematuz Johra, student of the Department of Women and Gender Studies, University of Dhaka, and member of BMP’s Organization Sub-Committee
• Md. Fazle Rabbi Sarker, student of the Department of Islamic Studies, University of Dhaka, poet, and General Secretary of Jasimuddin Hall Debating Club
After the debate, Saraban Tahura, Secretary of Publications of BMP, remarked that the arguments, counter-arguments, and discussions presented by the debaters enriched the session.
Dr. Farhana Afroze emphasized the importance of proper pronunciation during debates and advised debaters to avoid repetition while presenting information.
Shima Moslem, Joint General Secretary, noted that the participation of young people reflected their positive engagement with the organization’s diverse initiatives. She stated that various injustices are being committed today to hinder women’s progress, making it necessary to repeatedly return to Rokeya’s ideas for guidance. Rokeya’s work was vast—she worked on women’s suffrage, education, economic independence, political participation, and the lives of marginalized women. Nearly 150 years ago, she articulated the core ideas of gender equality and justice. Rokeya was not only a social reformer or merely a pioneer of the women’s movement, but also a profound social thinker.
Maleka Banu, General Secretary of BMP, said that debate competitions play a significant role in building a rational society. Through such exchanges, participants learn not only to argue logically but also to listen to and respect differing opinions. Although Rokeya’s life was short, the breadth of her work for women’s advancement requires dedicated time and effort to fully understand—an endeavor that will help young people contribute to building a rational and just society.
In her concluding remarks, moderator Dr. Fauzia Moslem stated that Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain’s contributions were so extensive that they cannot be confined within a single definition. At a time when misogyny and disinformation against women are on the rise—and even Rokeya herself is not spared—renewed discussions on her legacy are essential. Rokeya left behind five key lessons: breaking harmful traditions; addressing structural inequality between women and men; developing critical thinking; ensuring women’s economic independence and self-reliance; and organizing women through education. She demonstrated these principles not only through words but through action. She also warned that communalism and so-called religious practices are often used to obstruct women’s progress—an issue that persists today. Therefore, the practice and study of those who showed women the path forward must continue.
At the end of the competition, the proposition team emerged victorious.
• Best Speaker (1st): Mahmud Khalid
• Best Speaker (2nd): Arnab Roy Partho
• Best Speaker (3rd): Md. Fazle Rabbi Sarker (Team Leader, Opposing Team)
The event was attended by leaders of the Central Committee of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, secretaries, and organizational officials. The program was conducted by Rina Ahmed, Secretary of the Training, Research, and Library Sub-Committee.
