Feature

Debate for Generation Next Finals at Chittagong

Masudur Rahman

The debate series titled 'Star Campus Drishty Debate for Generation Next 2009' unveils the inter-class debate competition this year with Mastermind International School in Chittagong. This series of inter-class debate tournaments are being held every year in Chittagong's prominent institutions. Unlike last year, Bengali Medium schools have also participated this year.

The final day of the competition was held on the 23rd of March at Mastermind and was attended by Chief Guest Dr. Anupam Sen, Vice Chancellor, Premier University of Chittagong. He appreciated the spirit of the young debaters and urged the students to keep up the spirit of debating, as it sheds light on the two opposite sides of a coin. Also present at the final day was Prof. Syed Ahsanul Alam Parvez, Associate Professor, Dept. of Marketing, University of Chittagong, who urged the young debaters present at the competition to live a life with dignity and free of any discrimination and disparity. The award-giving ceremony was also attended by Pinnacle Program coordinator Mohammad Mainul Hossain and the board of directors of Mastermind including the Principal Prof. Ghulam Abu Muhammad.

The two debates held on that day were the finals of middle section and upper section. In the middle section, team Orchid won over team Tulip by a very narrow margin on the motion 'the main aim of satellite channel is not cultural development but commercial development' with the group leader of opposition being the best speaker. The middle section debate experienced very uncommon team sets of 4 debaters. This was due to high number of students interested to participate.

Meanwhile, in the upper section, team Apollo had an easy win over team Venus on the motion 'our present generation is detached from the spirit of 1971 liberation war' where the jury recognized the opposition leader as the best speaker.

The jury panel was made up of Mastermind senior teachers Dr. Arif Bacchu, Nishan Elahi and Drishty members Syed Rifat Faruk and Mujibur Rahaman. The competition was also whole-heartedly coordinated by Drishty members Afsana Chowdhury, Saifuddin Munna and Junayed Ahmed.

The debaters in the final debates were: (Tulip): Waseq Mahmud Chowdhury, Niyamat Ullah, Samiha Hussain Wadud, Zarin Tasnim Enam, (Orchid): Ruwaida Raneem, Zannatul Ferdous, Humaira Saad and Walidul Alam, (Venus): Mubtasim Sabab, Md. Fahimul Islam, Md. Rasibul Islam, (Apollo): Farzana Mukta, Araf Zahin, Medina Ali.

(Writer is a debater and member, Drishty Chittagong)