The New Nation - Internet Edition

Pankaj Karmakar

Debate is the way of strengthening democracy and ensuring freedom of speech, said Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron, Founder Chairman of Debate Federation, Chairman of Debate for Democracy and Director of national Television School Debate Competition.

Talking to The New Nation yesterday, he termed debate a powerful tool of expression of thoughts and sharing of views.

He pointed out that though debate is becoming popular in schools, colleges and universities, this culture can't be developed to its full potential in the absence of a national debating hall.

He was firmly of the view that public debate on burning national issues are must to establish unalloyed democracy and ensure sustainable development in the country. Many critical national issues can find solution through public debate, he thought.

Asked about the necessity of promoting debate culture in the third world countries like Bangladesh, he said " you need debate for the establishment of perfect democracy, establishment of the rule of law and for grooming good parliamentarians.

Asked about the prospect of introducing electoral debate in Bangladesh in the style of the USA, he said they were ready to arrange such debate.In this connection, he pointed out that the people were appreciative of the debate arranged jointly by the BBC and Election Commission during the recent city corporation polls.

He also found tremendous potentiality within the debaters of different levels of the Bangladesh saying, " My observation are our debaters are now very talented, confident and responsible in all respects of their life."

In reply to a question, he said that he was mulling the idea of organising

electoral debate on the eve of the parliamentary election .The participants

in the election will be invited to take part on the debate. Besides, we are also working to hold a SAARC debate championship with the participation of the universities of the SAARC countries.