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Linking Young Minds Together
     Volume 6 | Issue 42 | October 21, 2012 |


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After Class

Quest for a Greener World

Promiti Prova Chowdhury

Imbalance in the eco-system is something that is alarming for the whole world, particularly for third world countries like ours. With a view to aware mass people and encourage them to protect our threatened environment, 'AIUB-Prothom Alo 2nd National Inter College Environment Debate Championship, 2012' was held on October 12-13, 2012, at Notre Dame College (NDC) premises, organised by Initiative For Peace (IFP) in cooperation with Notre Dame College Debating Club (NDCDC). Juktir canvas e anki shabuj prithibi, with this theme, the debate was held as part of the '4th NDNSC National Nature Festival 2012,' conducted by Notre Dame College Nature Study Club.

 
 
The winning team of 2nd National Inter College Debate Championship. Courtesy: Arifur Rahman Arif

In this two day-long event around 2000 students and teachers from more than 70 educational institutes across the country participated. Alongside the debate, a number of events like Nature Olympiad, eco friendly project display, seminars and quizzes on different environmental issues, nature photography exhibition, and wall-magazine display were held. The Nature Festival was inaugurated by Hasanul Hoq Inu, MP, Ministry of Information and Technology, Government of People's Republic of Bangladesh, Anisul Hoque, prominent Author and Associate Editor of the daily Prothom Alo, and Professor Nazrul Islam, former Chairman of University Grant Commission of Bangladesh.

'Firiye dao oronno, loho e shadhinota,' (give back nature, take away this freedom), on this remarkable topic the final round of the debate was held on the 2nd day in between the two finalists teams, NDC Blue and NDC Green. NDC Blue, being the government team, was the Champion of this one-of-its-kind nature debate. They established their stands by saying that Bangladesh should use the local companies to utilise its natural resources like natural gas, and there should be some standards of prohibition for the foreign companies. In this way, Bangladesh can protect its true essence of independence.

A total of 32 colleges participated in this debate championship. The teams to reach the semi-finals were NDC Green, NDC Blue, NDC Gold and Viqarunnisa Noon College. Rafi Reza, Senior Programme Officer of NDCDC and also member of the winning team said, “We regularly participate in debates and organise different debate sessions. But to debate on a subject that helps create awareness feels great! I thank IFP for their initiative to arrange it at our premises.”

Arifur Rahman Arif, Chief Coordinator of IFP said, “The aim of this event is to create awareness among students, and, in general, the youth of the society about preserving our nature and eco-system. Next year we plan to hold this nature debate with 64 teams from 64 districts of the country.” Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan, the Founder of NDC Nature Study Club said that such initiatives would motivate students to become more concerned about nature and their surroundings.

The festival came to an end with a closing ceremony where Abul Hasan, MP, Ministry of Disaster Management, Government of People's Republic of Bangladesh, Father Benjamin Costa, Principal, Notre Dame College, Abdul Qayum, Joint Editor, daily Prothom Alo, Musa Ibrahim, the first Bangladeshi to reach the summit of Mount Everest and Father Adam S Pereira, Moderator, NDCDC were present. The media partners of this event were Channel I, The Daily Star, ABC Radio and prothom-alo.com.


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