Published: 24 November 2007
Health is one of the fundamental rights of the people. But after 36 years of independence, Bangladesh still fails in ensuring proper health care facilities for all. One of the major reasons behind this situation is lack of good governance and accountability in this sector.Realising the importance of good governance and accountability in health sector and to make the future doctors aware of ensuring highest quality health services for the masses by establishing transparency, Committee of Concerned Citizens (CCC), Chittagong; Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and Chittagong Medical College (CMC), organised an Inter-Medical College Debate Competition 2007, first of its kind, on 24th November at CMC with the slogan ?Chai Shasthokhate Shushashon?(We want good governance in the health sector).The participating teams of the competition were Dhaka Medical College; Sher-E-Bangla Medical College, Barisal Medical College; Rajshahi Medical College; Faridpur Medical College; Comilla Medical College; Mymensingh Medical College and two teams from host Chittagong Medical College.
The day-long event kicked off at around 10:00 a.m. in the Post-Graduate Lecture Hall. The opening ceremony started with the welcome speech of Dr. Shakil Ahmed, Lecturer, Department of Microbiology, CMC. Begum Mustari Shafi, Emminent freedom fighter, writer and Convener, CCC, Chittagong and Brigadier General Abedur Rahman, NDC, Director, Chittagong Medical College & Hospital were the special guests whereas Professor Dr. M. A. Wahab Chowdhury, Principal, CMC presided over. In her speech, Begum Mustari Shafi emphasized on the role of the future physicians in exterminating irregularities and lack of transparency and accountability existing at this moment in the health sector. Mr. Chowdhury in his speech said that through parliamentary debate the young generation can actually set an example for the Members of Parliament on their true role.
After the opening ceremony, everyone present observed 1minute 10 second silence in memory of the Sidr victims and it was followed by a rally. After the rally, a briefing session was held to inform the debaters about the rules and regulations of the competition.The battle of words began at two venues---Post-Graduate Lecture Hall and Shutopa Sen Hall right after the briefing session. The experienced panel of judges included Engineer Delwar Majumder, Co-Convener, CCC, Chittagong and teachers of University of Chittagong (CU) & CMC. At the end of the grueling first round, four teams made it to the semi-finals. In the first semi-final,Sher-E-Bangla Medical College, Barisal beat Chittagong Medical College (Team-B) whereas Rajshahi Medical College advanced to the final by beating Mymensingh Medical College.In the grand finale where the topic was, ?Shasthokhate shochchota o jobabdihitar obhaber karonei jonogoner shastho sheba nishchito kora jachche na?, Sher-E-Bangla Medical College, Barisal emerged victorious by beating Rajshahi Medical College. The members of the winning team included Prashun Biswas, Khaled Shams and Zubair Al Hossain where team leader Prashun Biswas became best debater.In the concluding session, Begum Mustari Shafi was the special guest and Dr. Shakil Ahmed, Mr. Md. Sajjad Hossain, Senior Advocacy Officer, TIB were present among others. Dr. Selim Md. Jahangir, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, CMC was in chair. In his speech, Dr. Jahangir thanked both TIB and CCC Chittagong for this initiative. At the end of the closing session, Mr. Fuad Hasan, Assistant Professor, Department of Marketing, CU & Ex-President, Chittagong University Debating Society (CUDS) and speaker of the final announced the winner's name. Farzana Akhter Badhon (YES Member, TIB) and this writer hosted the closing session.
