Stamford Debate Forum (SDF) - The Artisan of Debater

Stamford Debate Forum (SDF)

Stamford Debate Forum (SDF) has marked a concrete example in the debate arena through making debaters, organizing debates and participating in the tournament. It enlightens the fresh students to became logical and good debaters thus helping in personal skill development. Because of fairness in organizing, hospitality and strength of the members, SDF is known as the best.

The practice of debate among the students started increasing in a greater extent from the year 2000. Now-a-days when the world is moving fast towards logic, it urges the students to become logical and participate in debates. The impact of debate among the students shows knowledge, better personal skills and eloquence.

Stamford University Bangladesh started its journey in 2002 by the endeavor of Prof. Dr. Hannan Feroz. With the vision of spreading standard education in Bangladesh, Stamford University is now having thirteen departments and around 10,000 students. Prof. Dr. Hannan Feroz not only ensured quality education but also patronized debating and made a rare example as a private university to compete with the public universities.

Starting of the journey of SDF : SDF started its journey in 2004 by the supervision of the faculty members Manzoorul Abedin and Tahsina Yasmin. With few members at that time SDF participated in many tournaments throughout the year.

Flourishing: In the year of 2005 SDF started flourishing when Mahbubur Rahman, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering and former president, BUET Debating Club joined Stamford University Bangladesh and started guiding the members of SDF being a coordinator. The debaters got the chance to increase their skill, ability, standard, and started finding the success in debate.

Achievement: Throughout its colorful journey SDF gained the pride of being champion and runner-up in lots of tournaments. In the year 2006, SDF became champion in “Dristy Debate Championship”. SDF became runner-up in the same year in 1^st Stamford National Debate Championship.

In 2007, SDF became runner-up in several tournaments including Uttara University Debate Championship, GOD Debate Championship and 2^nd Stamford National Debate Championship.

In 2008, SDF got the pride to become the champion in Chittagong University Debate Championship. In the same year SDF became runner-up in Ekushe Hall Debate Championship, AIUB Debate Championship and Zia Hall Debate Championship. SDF was declared as the best debate club in that year. SDF was also successfull in international arena breaking in Delhi Rhetoric 2008.

In 2009, SDF became runner-up in Dristy English Debate Championship. Two teams of SDF also became champion and runner-up in 1^st ULAB Bangla Debate Championship and runner-up in 1^st ULAB English Debate Championship in that year.

In 2010, SDF became runner-up in Bangabandhu Hall Debate Championship and Prime Bank - NDDC Debate Championship.

SDF won the BTV National Debate for the first time in that year.

In early 2011 SDF won Cambrian University Campus Parliament in ATN Bangla.

International Participation: SDF participated in various international tournaments throughout its journey. In 2007, SDF team participated in Delhi University Debate Championship. SDF participated in Worlds Debate Championship, Thailand in that year.

Two teams of SDF participated in All Asian Debate Championship, NSU, 2008. In the same year one team of SDF broke in Delhi Rhetoric.

In 2009 SDF participated in AUDC organized by East West University. SDF participated in NLS Debate, Bangalore towards the end of 2009. In 2010 SDF participated in 1^st United Asian Debate Championship, Thailand.

Organizing: Organizing free and fair debate made SDF a remarkable organization in the debate arena. SDF has organized five National Debate Tournaments where the famous schools, colleges and universities feel proud to participate. 1^st Stamford National Debate Championship was held in 2006 where 34 teams participated. 2^nd National was held in 2007 having 63 teams. 91 teams participated in 3^rd National held in 2008. 4^th Stamford National Debate Championship was held in 2009 where 140 teams participated and the 5^th National was held in 2010, 175 teams participated which was highest in the country.

Internal Tournaments: SDF organizes many internal tournaments throughout the year. It arranges workshop of debate for the freshers in the beginning of the year. Then freshers debate championship, Inter-department and pre-national debate competitions are organized one by one. 15^th January is the birthday of SDF. It organizes Mix-up debate championship just before the birthday where best debaters participate and a team is formed by the members of three different institutions. SDF is the pioneer of Mix-up debate.

Making Debaters: Making debaters is the mission of SDF. SDF transforms entirely new people into debaters where they find the chance to increase their knowledge, ability, presentation skills and eloquence. Throughout its journey, SDF has created lot of debaters who successfully participated in many tournaments.

Social Responsibility: Besides debating SDF is proud to perform many social activities. In 2007, SDF distributed warm cloths for the poor people in Rangpur during winter. SDF arranges many social awareness programs regarding children, women, diseases like AIDS etc.

Coordinators: Chief Coordinator Tahsina Yasmin, Assistant Professor, Dept. of English and Coordinator Mahbubur Rahman, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, supervise all the activities of SDF precisely. They guide every member and ensure a friendly atmosphere in the club. They keep the club as a family by their affection. Chief Coordinator Tahsina Yasmin says, ‘SDF has already created a mark in the debate arena of Bangladesh . It also wants to do the same in the international arena. It will achieve more glory by creating brotherhood in debate fraternity, by its strong organizational capacity and by practicing more and more debate. Thus SDF will contribute to the making of future leaders and thinkers for the country.’ Coordinator Mahbubur Rahman says, ‘SDF is the place where new people find the opportunity for personal development. SDF organizes fair debates and makes the debaters raise their voice against tyranny.’

Members of SDF: At present there are 150 active members of SDF. They arrange study sessions and practice debates every week. Present President of SDF Shuvro Pramanik is proud to be a member of SDF and wants to continue loving SDF. Vice President Lutful Amin says, ‘It’s thrilling when I debate for SDF, and beating teams of famous institutions is such a wonderful feeling.’ Another Vice President Shuvro Dey says, ‘Debate can make us logical to raise our voice against social oppression and inhumanity. It brings new dimension in our mind.’ General Secretary Naeem Farhad Islam is very enthusiastic to participate and win debates.

Future plan: The future plan of SDF is to continue these activities precisely giving the students opportunity to increase their skills, ability, and knowledge and become logical. SDF is keen to have a good relationship with other clubs removing all obstructions. SDF will continue making the field for debaters, being the best debate club and an organization that Stamford University Bangladesh is proud of.

-Lutful Amin, SDF