Fayez Ahmed's Blog: March 2014

It was a great opportunity for me to be a part of Dhaka University Model United Nations Association (DUMUNA). I am really fortune being the founder member of this organization in 2011 and worked till December 2013. It is a great honor to be the president of this organization and work with some really fantastic people. DUMUNA is such a platform where young people really can learn the art of diplomacy and negotiation in touch with real time diplomats. It’s a platform for learning leadership qualities, improving communication skills, increasing own network, learning Model UN Debate formate and having a lots of fun.

with honorable chair, shehreen apu and friends from IIMU at MOIC Malaysia

DUMUNA is the first and still only international level youth volunteer organization in University of Dhaka. It started journey in 2010 and its main motto is to spread the concept of Model UN throughout the country by arranging different workshops and conferences. From the very beginning of DUMUNA, it is arranging model UN workshops continuously each year in national level and weekly workshops for its members’. Diplomats, ambassadors working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh, Teachers from different Universities, and Officials from United Nations Bangladesh are frequently join in these workshops as mentors. They share their experiences among the participants in the workshops. Apart from this DUMUNA sends its team to different international MUN conferences every year.

with Mr. Kazi Ali Reza, Ambassador Ashfaqur Rahman, Mamun vai and Probal da

It was a great opportunity for me to participate Model OIC Conference in Malaysia in August 2013. It would not be possible if I were not attached with DUMUNA. I and Shehreen Ataur Khan, one of DUMUNA honorary member and one of my closest senior from the campus, joined this conference on behalf of University of Dhaka as well as DUMUNA. In the conference we had succed to pass a resolution on ensuring women rights and empowering them as sponsor country with playing the leading role. It was also an honor for me to be the Secretary General of DUNMUN Session II, held in 2013. This DUNMUN conference got a huge response from all around the country and 421 students from more than 24 universities of Bangladesh joined. After DUNMUN 2013, participants from universities like Rajshahi University, Khulna University, Chittagong University and some more showed their interest in forming MUN Clubs in their universities too.

in a program with UN Youth Champion with Erfan vai, Monique Coleman, Mr. Kazi Ali Reza and guests

I would like to thank Sheikh Mohd. Erfan Uddin from the bottom of my heart for all his hard works from establishing this wonderful organization at Dhaka University. Without you it would not be possible to form organization like DUMUNA. When I first meet him, he was about to be post graduate from Dept. of International Relations and I was a first year student from his department. The notion of Model UN derived from United Nations Youth and Students Association of Bangladesh (UNYSAB). Erfan vai joined UNYSAB at the end of his college life and started practicing Model UN. He participated in different national and international Model UN conferences across the world. During his participations in International MUN conferences he noticed that each well-known university in the world has a MUN club. Still the Oxford of East, University of Dhaka is still missing this. I think it might be his inspiration for creating this organization. Erfan vai was first ever to lead a delegation from Bangladesh to the USA and participated in National Model UN in New York from DUMUNA.

Mamun vai and Probal da with Kiyo Akasaka at GMUN 2011

I must mention another name here in reference, Mohammad Mamun Mia. What should I say or tell about him would be very few. He is my mentor, teacher, brother, friend and what not. If he remains beside me, whatever situation I am facing, I feel a great environment and remain very confident and calm. I can remember, the very first day when I met him. AAhhh!!!! Will share on some other posts. Here I don’t want to write about him much, I will try to write a whole post on him someday. Anyways Mamun is also a founder member of this organization and was president of DUMUNA session 2012-13. In 2011, he participated the most prestigious conference Global Model UN organized by United Nations in Incheon, Republic of Korea. There he and Shiddharto Goswami, (probal da) General Secretary of DUMUNA session 2012-13, meet with Mr. Kiyotaka Akasaka, the then Under Secretary General for Communications and Public Information of United Nations.

With all the dedication and hard works member of DUMUNA trying to create the best output for the betterment of the society. Besides working for promoting the notion of Model UN, this organization is always try to do the best in representing the country in different countries of the world and volunteering for the social development. I would say that joining organization like DUMUNA would not be a wrong choice for any student of Dhaka University. Join in and entertain your life with it. I hope you must learn many things from here and always remember the slogan of DUMUNA “United we work, United we achieve”.

delivering a token of thanks to Ambassador Jamil Majid

receiving Honorable Vice Chancellor of University of Dhaka Professor Dr. AAMS Arefin Siddique, Chief guest of inaugural ceremony of DUNMUN 2013

receiving crest from Professor Dr. Kamal Uddin, Treasurer of University of Dhaka, Chief guest of Closing Ceremony of DUNMUN 2013. Professor Dalem Chandra Barman, Professor Ainun Nishat were also present there.

with DUMUNA team member at CBIT Model UN in India

From February 13 to 16, 2014 I was attending Leo Youth Camp Innovation 2014. This youth camp of Leo District Council, Lions Clubs International 315 A1, held at Sheikh Hasina National Youth Centre, was a great opportunity for the young people to learn about leadership. This camp was full of opportunities for the youths to gather experience from staying closely with the Lions of this district. During the camp participants had participated in different competitions and the bests were awarded. The most attractive competition was finding out ‘Shoprotive’, the most intelligent young boy and ‘Bidhushi’, the most intelligent young girl. Both boys and girls participating in the camp had to participate in different competitive rounds and perform with their expertise to become ‘Shoprotive’ and ‘Bidhushi’. Participants also had to creative activities like preparing wall magazine of clubs and also participating in parliamentary debates, making projection on club activities, instant performance. Lions from the district came and shared their experience of Leoism and Lionism with the leo participants. Their speeches motivated the young Leos to be more social and work for the country. This was really an inspirational session for the young leo activists.

Leos are taking Leo Oath

Leos participating in parade

Those who are not familiar with Leo clubs must ask what this is and how it evolved in Bangladesh and what are the activities of Leos? Leo in full form is “Leadership. Experience. Opportunity”. According to the information from Lions Club International, more than 160,000 young people in 140 countries are proud to volunteer to serve their local communities and to call themselves Leos. Youth who join Alpha clubs (ages 12-18) have fun, make new friends and experience the rewards of serving others. Omega clubs (ages 18-30) help members further develop their leadership skills and prepare them for a lifetime of community involvement and contribution to society. Late Ln. Alhaj Abdul Jabbar Khan is the founder of Leoism in Bangladesh. He was a freedom fighter, first film maker and also a PDG. He organized leoism in Bangladesh in 1972. Leo club of Dhaka Kamalapur is the first leo club in Bangladesh. Throughout the world the young Leos are working to Making the World a Better Place for Children. They are collecting food and clothes for local street children, repairing playgrounds, implementing after-school tutoring programs, visiting children in hospitals, raising funds for immunization programs and many more activities. Besides their activities Leo clubs bring hope and laughter to needy children, especially on December 5, International Leo Day. In Bangladesh Leos also volunteering in different welfare activities of Lions Clubs Bangladesh. Most recently the “Ham-Rubela” campaign was volunteered by a huge number of Leos all over the country. Bangladesh Lions Federation (BLF) has ENT Clinic in BLF Hospital, Mother & Child Care Centre, BLF Education Fund, Physiotherapy Clinic, and Dental Clinic where Leos are volunteering in activities. Leoism is a very special platform for the young people to work for the community and under privileged people in the country.