DU wins Facebook anti-extremism campaign contest

Dhaka University has won a Facebook-based anti-extremism campaign in a global competition that saw participation of 160 teams from 70 countries.

“Think Twice, Act Wise”, the Dhaka University group, was named winner of the “Peer to Peer: Facebook Global Digital Challenge” yesterday in Washington.

Their campaign was promoting tolerance and empathy through development of critical thinking skills and extracurricular activities among the youth of Bangladesh, said a press release.

The winning team was awarded USD $5,000 as prize money.

“I still can't believe we made it,” said Imran Ahsan, a masters student of Dhaka University’s development studies and the team leader, told The Daily Star. “It was a great honor for our country. It was really incredible moment I have ever experienced.”

American University of Nigeria came up runners up in the campaign competition, followed by CEU Universidad San Pablo in Spain, and Xavier University of Philippines.

Also read: DU to attend global campaign competition against extremism

The Peer to Peer: Facebook Global Digital Challenge one of the Facebook initiatives to counter online hate and extremism, organizer EdVenture Partners said in the press release.

Student teams are challenged to counter the pervasiveness of hate and extremism on social media in ways that are credible and authentic to their peers and communities, it says.