One of the finalists speaking in front of the judges at the SEUDC Nationals 2024 arranged by the Southeast Debate Club (SEUDC) in Dhaka recently The Southeast Debate Club (SEUDC) hosted a successful edition of the SEUDC Nationals 2024, Voice for Resurrection, on October 18-19 at Southeast University bringing together 48 universities, colleges, and schools.
This year the theme of the competition was "Voice for Resurrection" which was based on the July movement against the regime of Sheikh Hasina. Voice for Resurrection aimed to revive critical discussion regarding the pressing issues of society, politics and global issues. Moreover, SEUDC decided to donate a certain percentage of the registration fee for the treatment of the fighters of the July movement.
The event kicked off with an opening ceremony attended by Prof Dr Farhana Helal Mehtab, at the beginning all teams showed respect to the July movement martyrs with a minute's silence. Prof Dr Mehtab remembered the supreme sacrifice of four Southeast students in the July movement for the sake of their country. Besides, she highlighted the importance of debate in fostering critical thinking.
The debates began on October 18 at 10:00 am in the British Parliamentary format, with intense rounds challenging participants on constitution, socio-political, economic, and global issues. After multiple preliminary rounds, teams battled for a place in the pre-semi-finals, where the motion was "This house will repeal article 7B from the constitution”. The top-performing teams showcased their argumentative prowess and secured their place.
On the second day, debaters participated in the pre-semifinal. The panel of distinguished adjudicators announced the breaking teams that advanced to the semi-finals after a wonderful session of debates. Teams expressed their eagerness to tackle the toughest motions of the competition, determined to leave a lasting impact. Eight teams got the chance to participate in the semi-final where a fierce battle of arguments was witnessed by the spectators.
Chief guest Md Asaduzzaman, attorney general for Bangladesh was present in the final round along with Judge Shamima Afroze, senior district judge, Nari O Shishu Nirjatan Domon Tribunal, Gazipur and Prof Yusuf Mahbubul Islam. In the final, four teams participated which were BUP1, BUP2, East West and MIST.
In the final, the motion was "This house regrets the idea of glorifying dictators". Debaters from each team showed different arguments in front of the judge to defend their stance. They enlightened the guests and spectators with their wise arguments regarding dictatorship.
The chief guest Md Asaduzzaman, attorney general for Bangladesh emphasised the importance of reviving critical discussions in today's world. In his speech, he praised SEUDC for fostering a platform that encourages students to think deeply about societal issues and propose solutions through debate.
The special guest Judge Shamima Afroze, senior district judge, Nari O Shishu Nirjatan Domon Tribunal, Gazipur, added that debate helps shape future leaders, empowering youths to be voices of reason in challenging times. They encouraged participants to continue their pursuit of intellectual growth, highlighting that debate competitions like SEUDC are crucial in developing well-rounded, informed individuals.
The grand final was a showcase of some of the best-debating talents in the country, culminating in the crowning of the champion team and best speaker. Eastwest University team became champion and BUP team runner-up. SEUDC Nationals 2024 successfully revived the essence of the debate, sparking meaningful dialogues among participants.
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