FreshGel--North South University Debate Festival '09 (Original Post on February 27, 2009)

ESS participated in the recent Freshgel NSU Debate Festival '09, hosted by North South University from 13-22 February 2009. During the school-level leg of the tournament, held from 13-15 February, the junior team (Tahsin Islam, Ehsan Chowdhury and Shams Shaher) from ESS ranked 10th in the semifinal break. The college-university level tournament was held from 19-22 February, and the A level team (Abrar Faiaz, Omar Rakib Viky and Alaka Halder) was more successful, winning 3/5 debates, but still missed the Quarterfinal break by 2 points.

Outside the debating arena, Alaka Halder won the Freshgel IDEA Leader challenge, sponsored by Square. The challenge was open to all the debaters, organizers, volunteers and adjudicators of the tournament and required one to pinpoint a problem in Bangladesh and suggest their solution. Alaka talked about the educational system of Bangladesh which alienates students from their country and suggested a mandatory General Studies course for classes 4-10 of both English and Bangla medium schools.
The Grand Final the NSU Debate Festival '09 was held at the Pan Pacific Sonargao Hotel on the 22nd February. In an exciting debate between NSU-4 (North South University) and IBA1 (the Institute of Business Administration, Dhaka University), the hosts emerged victorious. A Grand Closing Ceremony and Buffet dinner closed the evening.
We hope to have pictures up on the site soon!!