DU students stress building a moral society alongside reform at youth leadership summit in Senate Building

Dhaka University (DU) students have argued that rebuilding democracy requires giving equal importance to building a moral society, not only to institutional reform. They presented arguments for and against the proposition in a mock parliamentary debate held at the university.

Speakers also discussed moral leadership, the rule of law, accountability and the role of the university campus in building the country's future.

The discussions took place on Tuesday (3 November) at the university's Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building at an event titled 'DUCSU Youth Leadership Summit 2026' and 'Jagroto Nagorik Foundation Conscious Citizen Conference'. The Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) and the Jagroto Nagorik Foundation (JANAF) jointly organised the summit.

Young delegates from different parts of the country, alongside university students, took part in the summit.

One of the summit's main attractions was a mock parliamentary debate titled 'For the sake of rebuilding democracy, building a moral society should be given more priority than institutional reform'. Faria Arafat, Umme Suhala and Md Sajidul Islam spoke for the government side, while Sabbir Ahmed Shishir, Nahida Sultana and Tanim Bin Kaiyum spoke for the opposition. Both sides presented their arguments on the importance of institutional reform and of building a moral society in establishing democracy.

In addition, a mock cabinet presentation was held to showcase young people's policy thinking and skills, in which participants highlighted the role and potential of the young at the policy-making level.

In special guest speeches, former Appellate Division justice of the Bangladesh Supreme Court Mirza Hussain Haider, JANAF vice chairman Brigadier General (retd) Md Nasimul Gani and International Republican Institute (IRI) resident programme director John Fluharty discussed democratic good governance.

Representatives of the United States and Pakistan embassies spoke on leadership and diplomacy from an international perspective. DUCSU vice president (VP) Md Abu Sadik spoke on young people's political awareness and leadership role.

In the afternoon session, a panel discussion titled 'The university campus as a centre for developing moral leadership: youth leadership, the rule of law, careers and the future of Bangladesh' was held, moderated by DUCSU member Anas Ibne Munir.

Taking part in the panel were Professor Saifin Ahmed of DU's Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, former chief prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal Mohammad Tajul Islam and Professor Dr Shahriar Khan of Independent University, Bangladesh. The speakers exchanged views on building the university campus as a field for developing moral leadership, establishing the rule of law, and young people's careers and Bangladesh's future prospects.

In an open question-and-answer session afterwards, students put various questions to the guests.

The summit was chaired by JANAF chairman Dr Sheikh Abdul Hamid, a former professor of financial economics associated with Harvard and Boston University. At the end of the event, the debaters were honoured and certificates were distributed among the participants.