Call to create enlightened generation to resolve crises
National Debate Federation Bangladesh takes out a colourful procession in the city yesterday to mark the 4th National Debate Festival 2008.Photo: STAR
The 4th National Debate Festival 2008, organised by National Debate Federation Bangladesh (NDFBD), began yesterday with a call to create an enlightened generation in order to resolve the crises facing the country.
Around 1,000 debaters, including students with disabilities, from various educational institutions across the country are taking part in the grand debate competition.
Women and Children Affairs Adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury inaugurated the two-day festival at the National Museum in the city.
At the inaugural ceremony, the National Debate Federation also honoured Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star, with Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the country's debating arena.
Speaking on the occasion, Adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury said that the country is now passing through a critical phase and that the rational and science-minded youths would be able to steer the country out of this critical situation.
Debate can help students become good human beings who would look at things logically, she said, adding that the country needs a better education system, which can create an enlightened generation who will get the country out of all crises.
"Our generation has done a lot of mistakes and is still doing so. I hope the younger generation will show us the right path," she added.
Rasheda K Chowdhury also urged the debate festival organisers to ensure participation of underprivileged students in such events.
At the inaugural ceremony, the debaters made a pledge that they would never take drugs, never commit repression of women and never resort to corruption.
Receiving the award, Mahfuz Anam said the debaters should widen their knowledge base and improve language proficiency to do better in debate and to be competent in this competitive world.
He said the main difference between argument and debate is that one can present arguments without having no knowledge of the issue, but one must have proper knowledge to debate any issue.
The problems facing the country have been created due to less practice of debate and more practice of arguments, he added.
Speaking as a special guest, Dhaka University Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof AFM Yusuf Haider described this festival as one of the greatest debate competitions.
He called on the students to practise debate more and more and acquire knowledge and improve their language skills.
S Ranganathan, country manager of the Commercial Bank of Ceylon, Pablo Stansbary, senior director (education) of Save the Children, USA, Abdulla Hil Rakib, country director of Tex-Ebo International Pvt Limited, and Zulfikar Ahmed, managing director of Radio Amar, also spoke as special guests.
Earlier, the debaters took out a colorful procession on the Dhaka University campus to mark the festival.
Debating workshops, model debate, public speaking competition, meet the personality and a cultural programme were also held on the first day of the festival.
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