A recognition to a great debater, adjudicator & trainer

Bangladesh has come a long way since the country took part in its 1st World Universities Debating Championships (WUDC in short) in late 80's.

What is World Universities Debating Championships? It is the 2nd largest student activity in the world. More than 1500 debaters and adjudicators from almost 70 countries meet once a year from December 26 to January 04 to battle their wits and intellect on different topics which concerns the world politics, economy, religion and what not.

The topics covered in the debates ranges from "chemical castration" to "apartheid". The topic is given exactly 15 minutes before the debate starts and they have to give 7 minutes as tempo speech.

The English Debating culture in Bangladesh has been growing but not the way it was growing in countries like India, Malaysia and Singapore. But surprisingly for last 3 years Bangladesh has been progressing very fast in English Debates. More and more students are becoming interested in English Debating than Bengali Debating. This is all due to one single Bangladeshi and his name is Sarfaraz Ahmed.

Sarfaraz Ahmed was a former student of North South University. It was from this university he has started his debating career. In December 2001 he went to Toronto, Canada in his first world debate championships. He missed the quarter finals by 2 points. But he knew though he would never debate again (causm you have to be a student |o debate and it was his final yeir) he wanted bring up new generation of debaters.

After graduation he joined Grameen Phone ltd. but that did not stop his quest for the excellence in debating. He was developing him self every single day to achieve the excellence in debating.

In 2002 he started the other side of debating and that is adjudicating. By 2003 Sarfaraz Ahmed was considered a top Adjudicator both in the college and university level. He is a very non-biased adjudicator and he will give you exactly what you deserve, not a penny more not a penny less.

In December 2003 he went to his second World Debate Championships as a judge from Bangladesh. In the same competition he became the first Bangladeshi judge to chair 8 out of 9 rounds and he was also the Bangladesh Rep (Captain) in the World Debate Council (the central governing body which controls all international debate competition like the UN).

It was in this competition where his passion for debating went through a series of transformation. He became the Secretary General of the World Debating Council, becoming the 1st from SAARC countries and 4th from Asia to have this post. After his return he has decided to become a trainer.

In 2004 he coached Turkish Hope International College and IUB for the up coming world debate championships in 2005 in Malaysia. Surprisingly IUB scored 13 points becoming the top scorer in whole of Bangladesh and Turkish Hope as a swing team beat and threw challenges to a lot of foreign universities. But the whole point we need more like Sarfaraz Ahmed for future development in debating.

We should give recognition for his contribution toward English Debating in Bangladesh. This time in Malaysia he got re-elected as the Secretary General again unanimously. That shows his immense leadership that even the world respects him. Sarfaraz Ahmed at the age of 29 still works for GrameenPhone and spends his weekends in training young debaters and judges.

By Samir Rahman

Spring fashion

Winter is now almost waning out, leaving us with soothing weather we usually long for. Yes girls, Spring has come to sweep us off our feet and take us to the magical world of colours. It's time for you to dump your warm clothes into storage and pull out all those flowery spring outfits, and update your wardrobe with some handy hints from yours truly.

Colours and clothes
African, Navajo, Floral, and Geometric. Think bright, bold, in-your-face. The news is in the mix. But if you're not an accomplished fashionista, get the most pop out of a single, knockout piece paired with something solid. Night or day, the bold wattage is the same. Just make sure the big prints are on soft materials. What's fashion's new black? Aquatic blue-green! This green and blue combination gives the water and sky kind of feeling. Stumped for combination choices? Go for green-blue print or just wear a blue kamiz with green salwar and scarf. It also goes for your choice in Western's...a green tee would look fabulous with your blue denim.

As it's still a bit cold now lets not put the jackets away just yet. 50's style sleeves, por|rait collars and square necks are very modish. This jacket is a chameleon: Dress it up or down. With jeans it's everyday casual; move it into work over a skirt. When it comes to pants try out sleek and skinny, or loose and boyish kind of pants. Choose what works for your body. And opposites attract!

For a balanced look, pair skinny pants with a decons|ructed top and looser pants with a shrunken cardigan. Freshen up last year's trousers by cuffing and rolling the legs. The big news for skirts is volume. Poufy and girlie feel fresh, as do feminine hemline treatments like ruffles and pleats. Length is not an issue. You might be thinking about the material... clues would come from the fabric, no matter what the shape: casual cottons by day, luxurious fabrics by night.

Dresses can be worn in one colour as it knocks off the width and adds height. You can use different textures of the same colour to make your outfit more interesting. For kamiz 60's fashion is back on track...a very short kamiz with churidar and your hair tied back with a broad headband would make you look absolutely stunning.

For this season short stylish heeled or platform shoes would do good. You must know one thing: stone fitted bags and sandals are very in vogue for this season's evening look. If they are expensive out in the market then why not buy stones and fit them on your plain bags and sandals. For casual woven different colours bags or sandals look awesome for this season....

We don't want our RS teen readers to do a lot of make up and look war-painted. You can try different colours of kajal like green, blue or brown instead of black for spring. Get yourself a lip brush and clear gloss -- you can freshen up your look by simply wearing gloss mixed with your favourite light coloured lipsticks. Just swipe your brush against the lipstick and dab it in gloss; then paint the mixture on your lips.

Guess what; headbands are back in style! Make way for the headband! Spring's hottest hair accessory is replacing autumn's brooch. Well, the headband is making a fashion comeback in a big way, in all colours, prints, shapes and sizes. Last but not the least-- add colourful plastic or steel bangles to both your casual and eveningwear matching the colourful and pleasant nature of spring.

By Tashmia Zaman

GED@ centre for academic performance

Centre for Academic Performance (CAP) began as an O and A Level coaching centre, but by the November of 2001, it pioneered as the only GED( General Educational Development) of the country. Its jouzney began with 20 students but by the December of 2004, more than 150 students have attained the GED status.

GED is the only way to earn an American High School Diploma Equivalency from Dhaka. Students 17yrs and above are eligible for taking this exam. It is a computer based exam conducted by Prometric Centre, is a recognized Higher Secondary Level equivalent, running successfully in 220 countries across the globe and more than 860 000 students worldwide take the GED test each year. The most renowned GED graduates include Bill Cosby, Christian Slater, US senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell etc.

CAP has definitely brought a new dimension to the education sector of the country, and it is accepted in all local private universities and 95% of the universities in USA and Canada, including MIT.

Upon asking why GED should be preferred to A-Level or HSC, Ms.Faria Ghani and Ms. Shegufta Khan told us that it is a 5 month course( which is approximately one fourth of the time phase required for A level) it is less taxing on the brain, it is very cost effective, the exams are computer based and most importantly, the results are instant.

Centre for Academic Performance is an amazing institution, consisting of young and senior talented professionals. At CAP each and every class assignment is marked and a monthly evaluation card is provided to the guardians. CAP distinguishes itself in course design, teaching techniques and other academic amenities.

The Centre for Academic Performance is located at House 23, Road 18, Block J, Banani.

By Taskin Rahman

Spring
The queen of seasons

"Aha Aji e boshonte
eto phul phote
eto bashi baje eto pakhi gai..."
(Oh! Spring brings in so many flowers,
mellifluous flute tune and singing birds…)

In Tagore's eyes Spring has an existence of its own which brings in the fragrance of flowers, gentle breezes, and an abundance of gaiety in him.

SPRING here is known as Basanta, in the months of Falgoon and Choitro. It is rich in colour, beauty, music and fragrance. The winter is dull and dreary. The scorching heat, sweltering nights make life disagreeable in summer. Spring has no such inconveniences. Coming after winter it captivates the hearts of people at once and at the influx of summer people bewails at its passing away. With the advent of Spring, everything seems fresh. Blossoming mango buds and fresh leaves, spring flowers Shimul and Palash are cordially welcomed. This very season is known to stimulate lovers to pamper themselves that is famous as Basanta Bilap.

Love of beauty is an inherent virtue. Whether one realises it or not, beautiful things have a charismatic effect on the human mind. The people of Bangladesh have a unique temperament. A great extent of this characteristic must have come from the tender natural beauties that surround them. Indeed it is spring that offers the largest number of charming sights and sounds that put out of our mind the bleak winter and set up for the toilsome sowing and weeding in summer. This is why everyone in the country greets Basanta (spring) on Pahela Falgun, the official start of the season with aplomb and celebrations. Oirls clad themsmlves in Bashonti (marigold) coloured sarees, garland in floral ornaments and men in pajama and punjabi welcome the season with songs and dances. Even the elders do not refrain themselves from the joviality, they participate by putting abir on each other.

The Institute of Fine Arts organises cultural programs every year as a part of spring celebrations. In Dhaka, the Basanta Utshab Festival Celebration Committem has been arranging the programme for around a decade at Charukala Bakultala of Dhaka University to acquaint the mass the significance of the festival. Now the jollity is rampant in cities, towns and around the country. They organise their own programmes in their own way to celebrate one of the most beautiful days of the Seasons and these fêtes contribute a lot in shaping us as Bengalis.

"Madhobi hothath kotha hote elo, falgun diner srothe eshe, eshe heshei bole 'jai jai jai'..." (Madhobi comes with the waves of spring and just upon arrival it wants to depart…
) This season is very elusive since it comes and goes almost imperceptively. It disappears just when we begin to realise its charms. Maybe its short duration leaves an urge in us to perceive more of its beauty, and make us love it more.

By Maherin Ahmed