On Sunday, October 6, Waterkeepers Bangladesh organized a climate-focused youth engagement program at Pekua High School in Cox’s Bazar, featuring a drawing competition, debate, cultural performances, and a prize-giving ceremony. Around 300 students from various local educational institutions participated, showcasing their skills on topics related to environmental awareness and climate change.
The event’s inaugural session was presided over by Master Kamal Uddin Dulal, Head Teacher of Pekua High School. Environmental activist and journalist Delwar Hossain moderated the competitions. The Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate of Pekua, Nur Peyara Begum, attended as the chief guest. Special guests included Waterkeepers Bangladesh researcher Iqbal Farooq, Chairman of Youth Bangladesh Chattogram, Muslim Azad, Secretary of Pekua Press Club, M Abdullah Ansari, and Waterkeepers Bangladesh Manager, Mamun Kabir, among other prominent figures.
The topic of the debate competition was ‘Fossil fuels are not the solution; only renewable energy can combat climate change,’ where the affirmative team from Pekua Girls’ High School emerged victorious against the opposition team from Pekua Government Model GMC Institution. In the drawing competition, participating students conveyed messages about environmental protection through their artwork. At the event’s conclusion, the guests presented awards to the winners. Chief guest Nur Peyara Begum, along with Waterkeepers Bangladesh Manager Mamun Kabir, Coastal Rover Scouts Group Team Leader Sadekur Rahman, and Pekua High School Teacher Iqbal Hasan, distributed the prizes to the deserving participants.
