A four-day international conference was inaugurated at Asian University for Women (AUW) in Chittagong yesterday, organised by AUW Model United Nations (UN) Club.

Prof Herman T Salton, a faculty member of AUW and an advisor of the club, inaugurated the conference titled AUW International Model UN 2016, aiming at building skills in critical thinking, public speaking, networking and problem solving of different international issues.

A total of 200 students from 20 countries are participating in the conference. Anjuma Tanha, a student of AUW and secretary general of the conference, said this is the first ever international model UN conference in the country.

The conference will cover different sessions of five committees, namely, UN Security Council, International Tribunal for Law and Sea, Unicef, Economic and Social Council and UN Women Council, she said, adding that the theme of the conference is thriving towards an equitable and inclusive global political economy. Participants will also discuss on how the European nations are dealing with the refugee crisis.

Students from different countries are participating in the conference. Photos: Collected

Farishta Afzaly, an AUW student hailing from Afghanistan and also the vice-president of the club, said they organised the conference as they wanted to help the students in building various skills.

"Students will discuss different international issues like refugee issues in Middle East, Child soldiers in Boko Haram, IS and beyond, and South China Sea conflict. They will also give a pragmatic solution of the crisis in a diplomatic way," she added.