Feature

Dhaka University wins Seventh Inter-University Anti-Corruption Debate Championship 2007

Kamrul Hasan Khan

Dhaka University clinched the champion's trophy of the Seventh Inter-University Anti-Corruption Debate Championship 2007, defeating Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet). In the final, the two competing teams fought with logics in their argument to establish their opinion in favour or against the topic “Corruption is the main hindrance to development of third world countries”.

The final of the four-day competition that started on December 9, the International Anti-Corruption Day, was held on December 12 at Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) of the DU. Rashedul Alam Russel from the winning team was selected best debater of the competition. A total of 104 debaters in 26 teams from 21 public and private universities across the country participated in the parliamentary debate competition. In the semi-final two teams from the DU, Buet (team-2) and Stamford University competed. The DU (Aparayeo Bangla) defeated the Stamford University and the Buet (team-2) defeated DU (Shoparjito Shwadhinota) in making their way to the final round.

DU Debating Society (Duds) hosted the competition, with the cooperation of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and Transparency International Bangladesh. The winning team was awarded with crest and a compilation of Rabindranath Tagore works, while the runner-up team was awarded with crest and compilation of Manik Bandopaddhay works. Prof Syed Monjurul Islam, chief moderator of the Duds, announced the winner of the seventh championship at a closing ceremony in the evening.

Chaired by the Duds President Tahmid Islam Amit, the closing ceremony was addressed by university's Treasurer Syed Abul Kalam Azad, The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman and Syed Monjurul Islam. Addressing the closing ceremony, speakers said the young generation's participation in the anti-corruption campaign could eliminate corruption from the country. They should reflect on anti-corruption attitude in their personal life.

Mahfuz Anam urged the young generation to build an anti-corruption mind-set within themselves to combat the corruption. “You will have to have a brave stand against corruption through developing a bold character. We cannot campaign against corruption without reflecting on anti-corruption attitude in our own life,” he added. He said wastage of public property of a poverty-ridden country like Bangladesh is simply intolerable. The biggest sin is to make use of that property for someone's interest instead of country's welfare. Dr Iftekharuzzaman said for elimination of corruption people from all strata of life, especially young generation, will have to be vocal and have to work against it. Otherwise corruption would not be possible to eliminate only through preventive measures. Prof Syed Abul Kalam Azad said a union of honest people is needed in the society who can stand against corrupt people in most effective ways.

On December 9, the seventh Inter-University Anti-Corruption Debate Competition had begun with a slogan to prevent corruption. Vice-Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz formally inaugurated the competition. ACC Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury, Pro-VC Prof AFM Yusuf Haider, Chief Moderator of Duds Prof Syed Monjurul Islam, TIB executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman and others were present at the inaugural session. Addressing the inaugural session, Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury said, "Debate flourishes logic sense in human being, and a person with logic sense cannot be involved in corruption."

Debate against corruption is now a demand of time. The real appearance of corruption and next course of actions to combat it may come out through debate, he observed. After the inaugural session, a seminar titled "Combating Corruption and thought of Youth" was held, where Duds general secretary Md Ziaul Haque Sheikh presented a keynote paper. Syed Monjurul Islam, Prof Aminul Islam, Prof Asif Nazrul and Dr Iftekharuzzaman participated in the seminar. Duds president Tahmid Alam Amit conducted it.

(Kamrul Hasan Khan, is DU Correspondent, The Daily Star)