DRU Hosts Inter-Forum Debate Competition for the First Time

The DRU DFD debate competition has started for the first time. It aims to build logical thinking, analytical skills and debate practice among members of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU). The DRU Debating Club organised the event with support from Debate for Democracy, and 12 teams of journalists are taking part.

On Sunday (8 November), Mr. Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiran, Chairman of Debate for Democracy (DFD), opened the competition at the Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium of DRU. DRU President Mr. Abu Saleh Akon presided over the event. Mr. M M Jashim, Convener of the DRU Debating Club and Organising Secretary of DRU, moderated the programme.

DRU General Secretary Mr. Mainul Hasan Sohel and Professor Mr. Tajul Islam Chowdhury of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University attended as special guests. Several others spoke at the event. They were Mr. Ashish Kumar Dey, a senior member of DRU, and Mr. Sheikh Md. Arif, Member Secretary of the DRU Debating Club. Mr. Kazi Shahidul Alam, an executive member of the club, also spoke.

DRU members Mr. Mostafa Mallik, Mr. Rashed Rabbi, Mr. Monir Hossain, Mr. Protik Ejaz and Mr. Sushanta Kumar Sinha also gave speeches. Mr. Niaz Mahmud Sohel, Finance Secretary of the DRU Executive Committee and an executive member of the Debating Club, was present. Cultural Secretary Mr. Monowar Hossain and Entertainment Secretary Mr. Aminul Haque Bhuiyan were also there.

Twelve journalist organisations are taking part in the competition. They are Bangladesh Sports Journalists Community, Capital Market Journalists Forum, Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum and Religious Reporters Forum. The other teams are Bangladesh Agricultural Journalists Forum, Bangladesh Environment Journalists Forum, Bangladesh Agricultural Reporters Forum and Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum. The list also includes Bangladesh Crime Reporters Association, Education Reporters Association, Supreme Court Reporters Forum and Reporters Against Corruption.

The debate round of the competition will begin at 11 am on Saturday, 14 November. It will follow the traditional method.

At the opening, Mr. Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiran said debate helps people think in many ways. He said debate is very much needed to widen thinking. He wished the DRU Debating Club growing success. He also promised full support for such debate competitions in the future.

DRU President Mr. Abu Saleh Akon said journalists are always in the middle of debate. When any issue comes up, journalists must check and sort the facts before they write a news report. He hoped the work of the DRU Debating Club will widen the thinking of its members.

DRU General Secretary Mr. Mainul Hasan Sohel said the organisation has many good debaters among its members, and some of them are the best in the country. He hoped everyone would enjoy this first debate competition. He also warmly greeted and congratulated the 12 teams taking part.