News Room

Star Campus - Drishty School of Debate:
5th Batch Inaugurated

Masudur Rahman

Every time I have been on the dais to debate, I have felt that a debater only delivers his best, if he has enough practice, abides by the norms of the debating format, and most importantly, has witnessed a good number of debates. At Drishty Chittagong, we feel that the debaters being groomed in Chittagong are not equipped enough with the wits and techniques of debate.

To overcome such obstacle in our path, we came up with an idea of starting a School of Debate of our own. And now, we have the 5th batch. Yes, you heard it right, we are proud to announce the 5th batch of School of Debate under the sensational debating series in Chittagong 'Star Campus-Drishty Debate for Generation Next 2009,' this time, exclusively for English medium students. The opening ceremony was held on the 14th of November, inaugurated by Roshangir Bachchu, Executive Vice President, Bank Asia. Also present at the ceremony were Mastermind International School Principal Prof. Ghulam Abu Mohammed, Executive Director of William Carey Academy Mrs. Marilou Long, Siemens Bangladesh Ltd Director Shobhan M Shahabuddin, Drishty President Masud Bakul, Drishty Vice President Kashshaful Haque Shehjad and Saif Chowdhury, General Secretary, Drishty Chittagong.

I, being the acting coordinator of the 5th batch, briefed the guests and participants a little on the course and spoke a little on debate when Drishty Secretariat Member Afsana Toma invited me on the stage. The guests all welcomed this endeavour of us in helping the young debaters. They said that it is very important to be able to think and speak in English at the same time, as it is a global language. They think it can be achieved by debating, so this workshop could prove to be really helpful to the participants. Students of class seven to twelve are attending this training-cum-grooming session, to be held on weekends.

Our motto, logic for light, has been wholeheartedly received by the following schools: Mastermind International School, William Carey Academy, Cider International School, Bangladesh Elementary School, Sunshine Grammar School, Chittagong Grammar School, Child Heaven School, Dewdrops Preparatory School, Cantonment English School, Oxbridge International School, Global Scholar School and Standard School & College. Drishty Joint Secretary Adnan Mannan is coordinating the school of debate.

(Writer is the acting coordinator of School of Debate, Drishty Chittagong)

Dept. of English, DU, organizes International Conference

Asif Iqbal

The Department of English, University of Dhaka, organized an international conference on 'African Literature in English/ Africa in Literature' on October 30, 2008 at the R.C. Majumdar Auditorium. The event was part of the department's ongoing celebration of Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart. Professor Dr. S. M. A. Faiz, Vice Chancellor, University of Dhaka, was the Chief Guest on the occasion, while Professor Kabir Chowdhury, National Professor, University of Dhaka attended the event as the Special Guest. Dr. Khondokar Ashraf Hossain, Convener and Chairman, Department of English, gave the welcome address. Dr. Khaliquzzaman Elias, Chair, Department of General & Continuing Education, delivered the keynote paper on 'Legacies of Prospero Among People of African Origin.’

CUDS Celebrates 12th Anniversary

Tabassum Mokhduma

Chittagong University Debating Society (CUDS) celebrated its 12th founding anniversary on 11 November. To commemorate the day, a roundtable on "Debate and Debate Movement" was organized at the auditorium of Chittagong Lion's Foundation (CLF), Chittagong. Dhaka University Debating Society (DUDS) President Mofazzal Hossain Shumon moderated the program. Md. Mozammel Ali Chowdhury Jamshed, Acting General Secretary of CUDS made the welcome address while Rowshan Fatema, President of CUDS, presented the Concept Paper of the roundtable. The roundtable was attended by Md. Tayub Chowdhury, Treasurer of Chittagong University Teachers' Association (CUTA) and Associate Professor of the Department of Marketing, University of Chittagong (CU); Md. Nasirul Huq, a renowned journalist of Chittagong; Md. Shahidul Haque, Assistant Professor, Department of Communication and Journalism, CU; Dr. Md. Atiar Rahman, Lecturer, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, CU; Shahabuddin Neepu, Lecturer, Department of Communication and Journalism, CU; Golam Mowla, Teacher, International Islamic University Chittagong (IIUC); Masud Bakul, President, Drishti Chittagong, many other distinguished teachers, students from CU, members of various debate clubs and the past and present members of CUDS.

CUDS, one of the leading debating organizations of the country, are slated as one of the forerunners in the debate movement of Bangladesh. Starting on 11th November 1996, this Society has come a long way organizing various forms of debates, promotional debate programs, debate assistance programs, awareness building debates, debate workshops, festivals etc.

The program came to an end with celebrating the day by cutting CUDS's birthday cake. Chittagong University Journalists Association was the media partner of the event.

DIU excels in ACM-ICPC Regional Dhaka Site

Anish Rahman

The world's most prestigious contest for programmers 'ACM Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC)' was held during 7 to 8 November, 2008. Two teams of the Daffodil International University (DIU) participated in the Dhaka Regional Site of ACM-ICPC and secured the ninth position among the top 10 Institutions. Khondoker Md. Jarip, Tariqul Islam Sarker and Tania Sultana of DIU FATAH team solved two problems and ranked 16. And the team DIU-A including Mohammad Hasibul Haque, Md. Samsul Islam Hiron and Mahfuzur Rahman solved one problem and ranked 45.

Mr. Ahmed Samsul Arefin, Senior Lecturer of CES & CIS Department, Daffodil International University coaches both the teama. Total eighty teams participated in the contest.

Discussion on Media at IUB

Raisa Rasheeka

A roundtable discussion was held recently at Independent University, Bangladesh, on the topic Bangladesh Media Education and Employment. The Media and Communication Department of Independent University, Bangladesh, and Media Arts and Technology Research (MATR) organized this discussion.

Media Arts and Technology Research is an independent research firm working on tracking trends, popularity, communication effectiveness and in-depth studies on better communication for the Bangladesh market.

The Department of Media and Communication of Independent University, Bangladesh shaped up as a full-fledged school in 1993. Currently there are 150 declared majors in the four streams of Advertising, Film, Journalism and Development Communication.

Mishu Rahman, CEO of Media Arts and Technology Research and Dr. G.M Shahidul Alam, Head of the Department of Media and Communication, Independent University, Bangladesh, moderated the discussion.

The objectives of the roundtable were to illustrate the current human resource scenario in media, evaluate the Curriculum offered in Higher education in media in Bangladesh and provide feedback on whether local graduates fulfill the market needs in media in Bangladesh.

The participants in the discussion included Nowajesh Ali Khan, Advisor, ATN Bangla, Shaon and Goutam Ghosh, CEOs of advertising agencies, Mostofa Kamal Majumdar, editor, New Nation, Dr. Tanvir Khan, Registrar, IUB, Dr. Omar Rahman, Pro-Vice Chancellor, IUB, Prof. Nazrul Islam, Director, School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, IUB, Dr. Anwar, Director, School of Engineering, IUB.

Freshers'Reception at ASA University

Abu Sadat

Freshers' Reception programme for Fall-2008 students of ASA University Bangladesh was held at ASA University auditorium. Prof. Md. Muinuddin Khan, Vice-Chancellor, ASA University Bangladesh presided over the ceremony while Mr. Md. Shafiqual Haque Choudhury, President ASA & Chairman, Board of Governors, ASAUB was present as the Chief Guest.

Prof. Dr. Abdul Awal Khan, Dean, Faculty of Business, Prof. Dr. Tareq M.R. Chowdhury, Dean, Faculty of Arts, Social Science and Law, Prof. Dr. Md. Saiful Islam, Registrar, ASAUB spoke on the occasion. BOG- members, Chairman of all departments, all teachers, administrative officers of ASAUB and most of the students were present on the occasion.

Mr. Md. Shafiqual Haque Choudhury, President ASA & Chairman, Board of Governors asked the students to be more attentive to their academic studies to face the challenge of 21st Century.

Prof. Md. Muinuddin Khan, Vice-Chancellor, ASA University Bangladesh also advised the students to become enlightened with human qualities through obtaining desired knowledge.

Orientation Programme at VUB

The 'Fall Semester 2008', orientation programme of Victoria University of Bangladesh (VUB) was held on 15 November 2008 at the University auditorium. The Hon'ble Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. M.R. Khan presided over the ceremony.

In the first session the Registrar Mr .Md. Solaiman Miah delivered his welcome speech, introduced VUB's teachers & the administrative personnel, and narrated the code of conduct of the University to the new students.

The Dean, School of Business & Management, Professor M. Mokarram Hossain, Associate Professor Ms. Raihana Shams, Lecturer Ms. Sakira Sultana Mukta Department of English, Mr. Abul H.M Farook, Coordinator, Department of Tourism & Hospitality Management, Director, Accounts & Admission Sk. Md. Abu Siddique and Librarian Mr. Zakirul Islam addressed the newly inducted students.

World Town Planning Day 2008 at Khulna University

World Town Planning Day 2008 was observed by the students of Urban & Rural Planning Discipline of Khulna University. A rally was arranged on the 9th of November, which was inaugurated by the honorable Vice Chancellor of Khulna University, Md. Saifuddin Shah and Head of Urban & Rural Planning Discipline Md. Ashraful Alam.

The rally started from the university campus and went around the important places within the city. It was an attempt to create awareness about urban planning and the slogan was to achieve a green city for future. Besides, the week long programme contained seminar, poster design competition, debate on planning issues for future generation and finally cultural events. Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) observed this day on the 8th November in Dhaka and helped in arranging the rally in Khulna.

As the economic meltdown gradually engulfs the whole world and economists sit and scratch their heads to find a way out, young economists at Maple Leaf International School (MLIS) wasted no time to join them and identify the root causes of the crisis and its impact on our own economy. Members of MESS (Maple Economics Students' Society) organized a seminar titled “Global Financial Crisis, its impact and rescue programs” on November 16, 2008 at Dr. Nawab Ali Auditorium at MLIS campus. The Lead Economist and Acting Country Director of the World Bank Mr. Vinaya Swaroop, Senior Economist of World Bank Dr. Zahid Hussian, and Economics teacher, Mr. Siddique Hayat Khan, addressed the seminar. The Public Information Associate of the World Bank, Ms. Mehrin Mahboob was also present. The seminar was presided over by the Executive Administrator of MLIS, Mr. Ali Mohiuddin Al Shams, while Farwah Tasnim, of MESS hosted the presentations.

IUB Freshers' Day 2008

Samreen Islam Ahmed

Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), has proved yet again how talented their students are in the true term of the word. With yet another wonderful cultural program organized by the Division of Student's Affairs (DoSA), IUBians welcomed the newcomers with a warm embrace with their musical performances that began with the immortal song of Rabindranath Sankochero Bihobalata Nijere Apoman sung by the students of the IUB and set the mood of the function.

Although the air outside was cold on the night of the 19th of November, the place where the IUBians performed was really heated up with excitement and joy of the students. Held at the Bashundhara Convention in Bashundhara, Dhaka, students were pouring in hordes to catch a glimpse of their friends perform.

Many of the performers were also doing their last shows at IUB as they will be graduating soon. It was also a thoughtful and sad show for those who are leaving us soon.

Present in the function were the Vice Chancellor of IUB Prof. Bazlul Mobin Chowdhury and the Pro-Vice Chancellor, Mr. Omar Rahman and many other Directors of each of IUB's departments and also many faculty members.

Bengali songs and English songs were performed. One of the English songs really caught my attention as it was a song from nearly twenty-five years ago, sung by someone who was probably not even born at that time. Yet it was an awesome performance!

A comical drama was also aired on the projection cameras for all to see. The skit was performed by fellow IUBians and yet another success as it was able to make people laugh to their hearts' content. The show continued with wonderful dance performances and a fashion show. I was amazed at how much the students, old, new, all, were enjoying the event. Such events should take place more often.

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