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Spotlight

Let Logic Prevail
1st National Debate Championship @ Daffodil

Hasan Shahrear

Debate is something which teaches us to think logically. Human intelligence gets perfection through practice and debate is one of the best forms of intellectual practice. To express opinion and to motivate others one must have proper speaking skills. Debate surely enriches speaking skills and it also sharpens our reasoning faculty. Sometimes we win and sometimes we lose; how to learn from defeat and become a winner again, we learn this practice as an outcome of debate.

The 'DIU 1st National Debate Championship 2009', organized by Daffodil international University Debating Club (DIUDC) was held in Daffodil International University (DIU) auditorium from 9 to 12 April, 2009.The motto of the championship was 'Let the logic bring freedom'. Twenty-four universities from all over the country including Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University, and Stamford University took part in the competition. It was a festival of logic; the spontaneous participation of the young debaters made the competition very lively.

The opening ceremony was held on 9th April, 2009 at DIU auditorium. Suranjit Sengupta MP was the chief guest while Professor Aminul Islam, Vice Chancellor of DIU, was in the chair. Sengupta became nostalgic while giving his speech; he recalled his university days. Professor Islam described the importance of extra-curricular activities. The souvenir of the debate was disclosed in the opening ceremony. It contains articles of writer Hasan Azizul Haque, psychologist Mohit Kamal, Robaet Ferdous, Assistant Professor of Dhaka University, AKM Shoaib, Chairman NDF, and Dr Binoy Barman, Head, Department of English DIU. The debate championship was conducted in knock-out system in the format of parliamentary debate. According to the parliamentary debate rules, there are two teams, each of three members, one is the government and other is opposition. There is 'a speaker' who conducts the debate house. After argumentation on a given proposal, 'the speaker' and his judge panel take the decision on its acceptance. If the proposal is accepted the government team wins; if not accepted, the opposition wins.

After a tough battle in the beginning rounds, four teams -- Jahangirnagar University 'A', Daffodil International University 'A', Islamic University of Technology 'A' and Daffodil International University 'B' -- reached the semi-final. The semi-final was a test of nerves, after a breathless session of debate, two teams of DIU reached the final. In the final day there was a public speaking competition; Tobuo Gonotontro was the topic. Nushrat Amin of Jahangirnagar University was the champion of the public speaking competition. Two runner-ups were Irtiza Ahmed of Jahangirnagar University and Kawsar Ahmed Siddique Ornob of Daffodil International University.

The topic of the final was Bangladesher Bhobisshot Opar Shombhabonamoy. DIU-'B' consisting of Safayat Hossain, Md. Ziaul Haque Sumon and Mehedi Hasan Shoaib formed the government team, and DIU-'A' consisting of Kawsar Ahmed Siddique Ornob, Raisul Hasan Shagor and Hasan Shahrear Ashis formed the opposition team. The government team focused on the political, economical, social, and cultural achievement of Bangladesh; on the other hand, the opposition denied the proposal because of economic problem of Bangladesh. The house was full and excited 'The speaker,' AKM Shoaib, gave ruling several times to quiet the house. In the mean time the chief guest of prize giving ceremony Honorable Minister of People's Republic of Bangladesh G M Quader and vice chancellor Aminul Islam joined the house. After an hour of exciting and logical argument the proposal was accepted in the house. Thus DIU-'B' won the 1st DIU National Debate Championship 2009.

Mehedi Hasan Shoaib was the best debater in the finals.

A grand prize giving ceremony took place on 12th April, 2009, Dr. Aminul Islam was the president and Iftekhar Amin Chowdhury was the conductor. Md. Ziaul Haque Sumon, the president of DUIDC, gave a touching speech about the organizing of the competition. Afterwards Safayat Hossain, former president, has abolished the old DIUDC committee according to the club rules and introduced the new. Minister GM Kader was the chief guest, Abdun noor Tushar, presedent BDF, AKM Shoaib, chairman NDF BD, Shakil Ahmed, news editor, Channel 1 were the special guests of the prize giving ceremony. Chief Guest GM Quader has talked about the importance of knowledge and logic based society, he added that debaters always have a bright future. Vice chancellor Prof. Aminul Islam was surprised to see the two teams of DIU in the final, he thanked DIUDC for organizing such a outstanding debate competition, he also thanked the Akiz Food and Beverage Ltd for being the sponsor, and 'The Daily Somokal', 'Star Campus', 'Channel 1', and 'Radio Aamar' for being the media partners. Finally he vowed that this program will be organized again next year. A splendid concert brought the program to an end.