Feature

UniMed-UniHealth 1st Debate Championship

Rezaur Rahman Danny

THE UniMed UniHealth 1st Inter Department Debate Championship 2010 was held in the University of Science and Technology Chittagong under the slogan, “Roar of logic, enlightened youth”. The programme was held from 26 to 30 May with the participation of 20 teams of various departments. The departments included Pharmacy, Biotechnology and Biochemistry, English Language and Literature, Electric and Electronics Engineering, Electrical and Telecommunication Engineering, Computer science and Engineering and MBBS. The programme was organised by the “Department of Pharmacy”. Chief guest Jasim Uddin, Managerial Editor, Dainik Purbokon inaugurated the programme by lightening the candle, representing the slogan. Dr. Nurul Absar, Pro-Vice Chancellor, USTC, Masud Bakul, President, Drishty Chittagong, Adnan Mannan, Lecturer, Department of Biotechnology and Biochemistry and Nasrin Jahan Boby, Lecturer, USTC delivered their speech. The programme was presided over by Dr S.C Roy, Chairman, Department of Pharmacy. Amongst 20 teams 8 teams were passed in the semi-finals and the best debaters of the first round were Reza Chowdhury, Mutmaina Hasid, Naheed Ahmed, Yakub Ali, Pipasha Biswa,Ruthba Tanveem, Farhana Akther and Fatima Ghoush.

In the Bengali debate session of the semi-final, Department of Pharmacy defeated Department of Biotechnology & Biochemistry and MBBS defeated the Department of Electric and Electronic Engineering. Best debaters were Reza Chowdhury and Rutba Tanveem Chowdhury respectively while the judges were Dr. Masud Rana, ex-debater USTC, Masud Bakul, Shuvashish Chakrobarty, lecturer, Dept. of Computer Science and Engineering, USTC, Irfan Newaz Khan Lecturer, Dept. of Pharmacy USTC and Nasrin Jahan Bobby. The speaker was Adnan Mannan. On the other hand in the English session of semi-final, Dept. of Pharmacy defeated Dept. of English Language and Literature and Dept. of Electrical and Telecommunication Engineering defeated MBBS. The best debaters were Yakub Ali and Virgil Thomas. Judges of various sessions were Debashish Ranjan Sarkar, News presenter, RTV, Dr. Masud Rana, Shuvashish chakrobrty, Adnan Mannan, Masud Bakul, Saif Chowdhury, Afsana Toma, Saber Shah, Irfan Newaz Khan, Nasrin Jahan Boby, Mohammad Shohel, Mominur Rahman, Tafhimur Rashid.

The 30 May was the final and prize giving ceremony day. M.A Salam, Chairman, CDA and Director of Asian Women University was the chief guest of the ceremony. Safia Gazi Rahman, Principal, Sunshine Grammar School and College was present as the special guest. Dr. Rafiqul Akther Director of administration, USTC, Adnan Mannan and Dr. S.C Roy delivered their speech while Nasrin Jahan Bobby hosted the programme. The final the topic of the English debate was “This house believes that the ruling system of Barack Obama is against the policy of USA” The government party, Dept. of Pharmacy won the debate and best speaker was Mutmaina Hasid. Members of the winning team were Nahid Ahmed, Nahid Akther and Rezaur Rahman Amin (Danny). Mutmaina Hasib, Mehrose Afsana Jaman, Faruk were from the runner up team. After the completion of the English session, began the Bengali session and the topic of the debate was “This house believes that not imperialist, but the next world is for revolutionist”. Dept. of Pharmacy won the debate defeating MBBS and the best debater was Reza Chowdhury. The members of the Pharmacy team were Reza Chowdhury, Partha Sarathi Barua and Rezaur Rahman Amin (Danny). Members of runner up team were Ruthba Tanveen, Anuraxi Barua, Nowseen Muntaha. Saif Chowdhury, Vice President, Drishty Chittagong and Adnan Mannan, joint secretary, Drishty, Chittagong was respectively the speaker of Bengali and English debate of the final. Both the final debates were very spontaneous and interesting. Through the UniMed-UniHealth 1st Inter-Department Debate Championship, a new door for debate has been opened in USTC and the organisers said they would like to arrange more quality debate competition in the future. The programme ended by thanking the organisers to all the participants and guests.

(The writer is a debater and student of USTC)