Feature

New leadership: Excellence in English Debate

Star Campus Desk

SATKHIRA English Debating Society (SEDS) organised the 1st National English Debate Championship 2009 recently in Satkhira with the collaboration of GrameenPhone as well as the district administration. More than 60 debaters along with 20 organisers from different schools and colleges participated in the competition. The institutions that participated were Khulna Zilla School, Rishipi Centre School, PN Biam Laboratory School, Nabarun Girls' School, Budhata BBM High School, Nobojibon Institute, Champapul Adarso Bidyapith, Karima High School and Satkhira Govt. School. In the college round four institutions, Satkhira Govt. College, City College, Satkhira Govt. Women's college, Amanullah Degree College took part.

On June 18, a rally led by the additional deputy commissioner Mukes Chandra Biswas along with 72 debaters and organisers of SEDS participated.

The debates were held in the local press club on the following resolutions: 'This house believes schooling in English medium is impossible in Satkhira'; 'Parliamentary democracy prevails in Bangladesh' and 'Price hike is the main problem of Bangladesh'. Top four teams were selected for the semi-final debate where the topic was 'This house would recognise the Sundarbans as the best tourist spot of Bangladesh' and 'This house will allow student politics'.

In the final round of school debate, Satkhira Govt. Boys' defeated Khulna Zilla School on the following resolution 'SAARC has become a circus'. On the contrary Satkhira Govt. College won against City College on the motion 'Digital Bangladesh is a challenge'. The prize giving ceremony and Barbecue Night were held at Ahasania Community Centre.

Tanvir Habib from Satkhira Govt. School and Cornel Masud became the best speakers of the tournament. The talented debaters discovered in this championship are Alamin, Shamim Iqbal, Bishwa Mitra, Nafis Mahadati, Bristy, Aumy, and Tama. In the final session a warm reception was given to Sajal Roy for occupying 16th position for the deputation of SEDS in the Rotary International Indian Model United Nations( RIIMUN-2009) debating Championship held at Symbiosis International University, Pune in India.