'Arguments of debate to help check corruption'

A university student speaks at a debate competition organised by the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) at a city hotel yesterday. PHOTO: STAR

The arguments of debate will help check corruption in the country, they said at the debate competition organised by the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) at a city hotel yesterday.

TIB organised the four-day debate competition as part of its programmes ahead of "International Anti-corruption Day" on December 9.

Besides the debate competitions, TIB will also hold a national seminar, essay competition and rallies at the six divisional cities to uphold the significance of the day.

Addressing the occasion, poet Asad Chowdhury said, "Though the country is at the peak of corruption, we should not lose hope rather we should work together to fight against the muscular corruption."

Quoting from Rabindranath Tagor, poet Asad said "Megh dekhe keu korisne bhoy arale tar surja achhe (Don't be afraid of the cloud, the sun is behind it)".

TIB Research Director SI Lasker said corruption must be checked from every sector right now.

Dhaka University Asst Prof Rubaet Ferdous said the arguments of debate competition would help stop corruption.

The organiser said 36 teams from public and private universities including Dhaka University, Chittagong University, Rajshahi University, Jahangirnagar University, Agricultural University and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) are participating in this competition.

In the knockout-based competition, the participants will debate on corruption, democracy, good governance, poverty, development and other issues.

The competition will continue till November 30 and the champion team will be awarded at the national seminar to be held to mark the Anti-corruption Day on December 9.

TIB Programme Director Abu Md Mohsin and Executive Director of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) Rezwana Hasan also spoke.