Cider Int'l School champions

Winners of The Daily Star-Astech Group 4th Inter-school English Debate competition pose with the guests at the closing ceremony of the event at Muslim Institute auditorium in Chittagong yesterday. Sitting from left are Ali Ahmed, managing director of Astech Group, Hasina Ahmed, president of Drishty, Safia Rahman, principal of Sunshine Grammar School, Mahfuz Anam, editor of The Daily Star, Dr Rabiul Hossain, managing trustee of Chittagong Eye Infirmary and Training Complex, and Nurul Alam, in-charge of Chittagong bureau, The Daily Star. PHOTO: STAR

Cider School defeated Sunshine Grammar School in the final of the competition organised by the Drishty, a cultural organisation. Bay View School became the second runners-up.

The closing ceremony of the debate competition was held at the Chittagong Muslim Institute auditorium, with Mahfuz Anam, editor of The Daily Star, as chief guest.

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Professor Dr Rabiul Hossain, managing trustee of Chittagong Eye Infirmary and Training Complex, Engineer Ali Ahmed, managing director of Astech Group, Safia Rahman, principal of Sunshine Grammar School and College, and Md Nurul Alam, in-charge of Chittagong bureau, The Daily Star, were present as special guests. Hasina Ahmed, president of Drishty, presided over the ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mahfuz Anam stressed the value of ideas and said it was not riches but new conceptions or ideas resulting from creative thoughts that helped countries gain prosperity in the post-industrial era.

Debate can help improve mental faculty and develop process of thinking and clarity of thoughts among young learners, he added.

Anam urged the students to understand the value of school, the centre for acquiring knowledge, generating creativity and building character comprising honesty, integrity and patriotism.

Prof. Rabiul Hossain lauded The Daily Star's contribution to different areas, including co-curriculum activities like debate.

He called on the future leaders and all supporting such activities to put heads, hands and resources together to help the nation march forward.

Engineer Ali Ahmad said debate can help an introvert person having leadership quality acquire skills to speak in public and lead the people in future.

He also called for setting up a debate academy in Chittagong.

Principal Safia Rahman said, "We want to promote the debating movement in Chittagong."

Nurul Alam said, "The Daily Star always supports such activities to help the students in their pursuit of knowledge as well as to share with their journey towards enlightened world."

In the final, the motion for the debate was 'Political leaders should focus mainly on economic development'. Samjid Siraj of the Cider International School, the winning team, was adjudged the best speaker.

In the other session of debate, Bay View School defeated Oxbridge International School. The motion for the debate was 'Corruption is the main problem of the third world countries'. Nazia Nowrin of Bay View School was adjudged the best speaker.

Navid Anjum of Bangladesh Elementary School was awarded the 'Best Debater of the competition'.