Feature

TIB-CUDS
Debate Competition 2007

M A Samad Hemal

It was a moment of truth, a moment of joy. It added another laurel in the history of Chittagong University. For weeks before the program it was a buzzing word and talk of the university. The whole university was eagerly waiting for that auspicious moment. The story of 50 young individuals finally came to an end when it was unveiled on May 12 at Commerce Faculty Auditorium at the University of Chittagong. Amidst thousands of people including teachers, journalists, university officials, guests as well as students, the inaugural ceremony of TIB CUDS, 9th Bangla, 3rd English, Inter Department Debate Competition, 2007, kicked off at 11 AM at the auditorium of CU Commerce Faculty.

Chairman of Anti-Corruption Commission(ACC) Lt. General (retd) Hasan Mashud Chowdhury attended the inaugural session as the chief guest. It was a grand four day event jointly organized by Chittagong University Debating Society (CUDS), Transparency International Bangladesh(TIB) and Sachetan Nagorik Committee, Chittagong under the leadership of Tazul Islam the president of CUDS.

CUDS Moderator Prof Dr Mahbubul Haque presided over the program while CU Vice- Chancellor Prof Dr M Badiul Alam, former adviser and TIB Trustee Board Treasurer M Hafiz Uddin Khan, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Sachetan Nagorik Committee, Chitttagong Convener Begum Mushtari Shafi, CU Commerece Faculty Dean Prof K M Golam Mohiuddin, CUDS president Tazul Islam, CUDS General Secretary Abdus Samad Hemal spoke on the occasion.

Later, Prof Bodiul Alam formally inaugurated the competition which was being participated by 34 teams from different departments.

With the first day coming to conclusion, we got to know who were moving up to quarterfinals. Then we came to know in the semi-finals in English section, Marketing Department was up against Finance & Banking department while Law was to take Bangla whereas in Bangla section; Journalism was up against Marketing and Bangla was to take Biochemistry. All the semi-finals were remarkable in their own distinct ways. From English section Finance and Banking and Law propelled themselves into the final whereas in Bangla section Journalism and Biochemistry took their respective place for final debate.

Beside competition, we arranged some friendly debate shows like Three Dimensional Debate(3D), invented by CUDS, which was staged by different debate clubs available in Chittagong dividing into three groups as thesis, anti-thesis and synthesis. The topic of that 3D Debate was 'Sottar sochota durnity rukhbi'. CUDS members performed the 'Rommo' debate, which was simply awesome. The audience surely enjoyed the session most. The topic was 'Balobasha micha asha bokara bala prem' while the session was presided by Shamim Iftekhar, a official from TIB.

There was also an extempore speech competition both in Bangla and English. 12 best scored debaters were chosen as 'Baroawri' debaters whereas the topic for Bangla was 'Adher tomer sobey micha' and for English 'A slit of light, at no birds dawn'.

Now, we would love to let you know the grand final of that gala event. The program was held at Commerce Faculty Auditorium on 16 May and started off around 11 in the morning in a room bursting with the enthusiasm, anticipation and thrill of watching such a tight competition. The subject of the debate of the Bangla section was 'Not terrorism but corruption makes the present world unstable' where Mass communication and Journalism department became champion while in English section debate titled 'Corruption, not politics is the major hindrance to encouraging investment in Bangladesh' Law department defeated Finance & Banking department.

Dr Syed Manzurul Islam, professor of English department of Dhaka University, was present as chief guest at the award giving ceremony. CUDS Moderator Prof Dr Mahbubul Haque presided over the program while Prof K M Golam Mahiuddin, dean of Commerce Faculty, Mr Sazzad Hosain, senior advocacy officer of TIB, CUDS president Tazul Islam and CUDS General Secretary Abdus Samad Hemal spoke on the occasion. Manzurul Alam Saiful Abedin, former president of CUDS performed as the speaker in the final round of the English and Bangla debate.

The program was definitely not over yet as the CUDS had more fun up. A breath taking student-teacher debate was staged immediately after award giving ceremony. Both students and teachers enjoyed the session immensely.

4th year B.B.A
Dept. of Management Studies.
University of Chittagong.
hemalcuds@yahoo.com
hemalmdc@gmail.com