Chess competition held at DU to mark World Mental Health Day

The Dhaka University Chess Club (DUCC) and Brighter Tomorrow Foundation (BTF) jointly organised a chess competition at Dhaka University on Friday to mark World Mental Health Day 2026, promoting mental well-being, positive thinking and intellectual development among young people.

The day-long BTF-DUCC FIDE Rapid Rated Chess Championship 2026 was held at the auditorium of the university’s Teacher-Student Centre (TSC), bringing together students from schools, colleges and universities.

The organisers said the initiative aimed to popularise chess among young people, raise awareness of mental health and encourage students to engage in healthy and creative activities.

In the competition, Siam Chowdhury finished fourth, followed by Shadat Kibria Ayan in fifth, Azraf Anan in sixth, Awsaf Chowdhury in seventh, Muhtadi Tajwar Nasheed in eighth, Rayyan Sayedi in ninth and Mohammad Mahin Rahman in 10th place.

Joyshree Zaman, founding president of the Brighter Tomorrow Foundation, presided over the programme.

Special guests included Bangladesh Chess Federation Vice-President and Deputy Inspector General Shoaib Riaz Alam, the federation’s Senior Joint Secretary and FIDE Master Mehdi Hasan Parag, Inner Wheel Club of Lobelia President Sajeda Akhter, DUCC President Fariha Sumana and mental health expert Farzana Rahman.

DUCC General Secretary Md Sajidul Islam conducted the event.