Published Date

30

October 2013
Wednesday

FIRST ECONOMIC DEBATE COMPETITION AIUB ECOBATE 2013

FIRST ECONOMIC DEBATE COMPETITION AIUB ECOBATE 2013

FIRST ECONOMIC DEBATE COMPETITION AIUB ECOBATE 2013

AIUB Equilibrium Club of the Department of Economics and AIUB Oratory Club of American International University-Bangladesh had recently hosted a two-day national Inter-university Debate Competition titled “1st ECOBATE 2013” from 11th October 2013 to 12th October 2013. Eighteen teams from ten universities including AIUB, BUET, Dhaka University (DU), North South University (NSU), BRAC University (BRACU), Independent University Bangladesh (IUB), East West University (EWU), Chittagong University (CU), Islamic University of Technology (IUT) and Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) participated in this unique debate competition that addressed vital economic issues. The motions ranged from healthcare insurance to the recent decision to construct Rampal coal power plant, microcredit, exchange rates, macroeconomic policies, labour economics and global trade. On the first day there were three preliminary rounds. The unique aspect of this tournament was that after each round the faculties of the Department of Economics provided a brief lecture on each of the debate motions, citing both the important issues for and against each argument and thereby making the competition a learning experience as well. Adjudication team included renowned debaters, Chief Adjudicator Rubayyat Hashmi, Deputy Chief Adjudicators, faculty members of the Department of Economics (Ms. Farhana Rafiq, Ms. Sharmin Shabnam, Ms. Afsana Afsar Tuly, Ms. Saeba Ruslana Abedin), Department Head Dr. Simin Seury, and guest faculties from other Universities. Six teams were selected for the knock-out rounds for the second day. Avia (DU), Tanzib (DU), Sabrina (EWU) and Tahreen (NSU) were selected as best speakers based on marks received from the preliminary rounds. On the second day the motion for the final was “This house believes that global free trade has failed the blue-collar workers”. The finalists were EWU and BRAC University. The Diverse Adjudication core team for the final competition comprised of Rubayyat  Hashmi (AIUB),  Arghya Dev Biswas (BRACU), Fardeen Ameen (IUB), Shadman Siddiqui (IBA-DU), and Convener of the event, Maimun Ur Rashid Mustafa (AIUB). The tab director was Nafees (NSU). Head of the motion committee was World Debating Champion, Aaqib F. Hossain. The champion of the tournament was BRAC University and the best speaker of the final was Zefroon Afsary (BRAC University). The Chief Guest for the Closing Ceremony, Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed (Ex-governor of Bangladesh Bank), and Special Guest, Mr. Nessar M. Khan (Senior-vice President Dhaka Chamber of Commerce Industries (DCCI)), enriched the tournament with their views on the final debate motion, followed by a speech from Prof. Dr. Charles C Villanueva (Dean, Faculty of Business Administration, AIUB). Prof. Dr. T. Hossain (Vice President, Academics, AIUB), Dr. Charles C. Villanueva, Prof. Dr. A. N. Neaz, Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed and Nessar M. Khan distributed the prize and certificates among the participants and organizers. The ceremony concluded after a speech from Prof. Dr. T. Hossain. Dr. A.B.M. Rahmatullah and all faculty members of the Department of Economics were also present in the final occasion in the debate competition. The adjudication core team comprised of Rubayyat Hashmi (AIUB), Arghya Dev Biswas (BRACU), Fardeen Ameen (IUB), Shadman Siddiqui (IBA-DU), The Tab Director was Nafees (NSU). Head of motion committee was World Debating Champion, Aaqib F. Hossain. The convener of the event was Maimun Ur Rashid Mustafa of AIUB. The media partners of the event were Maasranga Television, The Independent and Radio Shadhin.    The Equilibrium Club and the AOC express profound thanks of deepest appreciation to the AIUB management for the generous support extended in making the program successful.