2nd Sk+F NDFBD- MMDS National Medical College Debate Festival 2012 ‘Let the glory of logic enlighten the health concerns’ with believing in this slogan, the source for debate movement in Bangladesh- National Debate Federation Bangladesh (NDFBD) and Medical College Societies in Bangladesh are embarking on to the mark the 2nd SK+F NDF-MMDS National Medical College Debate festival 2012. Hundreds of medical students from all over Bangladesh will be enthused in this two days ardent participation in Mymensingh. Grand Rally, opening rite, debate competition, model debate, debate workshop, cultural events, barowari debate completion, multimedia presentation, closing ceremony, certification and prize giving ceremony and so forth will be involved in these two days festival. This presentation is prepared to train the youngsters on the basics of parliamentary debate practice in Bangladesh ( according to the MMC Debate format)

1. Highlights of Parliamentary Debate
Prepared by Sarzah Yeasmin
In Association with
National Debate Federation Bangladesh.

2. The manners of the
parliamentary debate
originate from the
British parliamentary
procedures followed in
the House of Commons.
Therefore the debate will
have two teams
participating in it,
typically, referred as the
Government side and the
Opposition.

3. The two teams participating should have three members each.
Titles given to the members of the Government side:
First Spokesperson- Prime Minister
Second Spokesperson- Minister for the motion
prevailing in the House or the Chief Whip
Third Spokesperson- Member of the Parliament

4. Titles given to the Opposition team members:
First Spokesperson- Opposition Party Leader
Second Spokesperson- Minister against the
motion prevailing in the House or the opponent
Chief Whip
Third Spokesperson- Member of the Parliament
(Opposition)

5. Sequence for
presenting the
dialogue
1. Prime Minister
2. Opposition Party Leader
3. Minister ( Government)
4. Minister ( Opposition)
5. Member of The Parliament (Government)
6. Member of the Parliament (Opposition)
7. Opposition Party Leader ( Rebuttal)
8. Prime Minister ( Rebuttal and Ending Speech)

6. The Debate is divided in 2 parts:
Constructive Rebuttal ( Responsive)

8. In the rebuttal round the Opposition Leader will get
1.30 minutes. A reminder is given after 1 minute and
on 1.30 minutes the final indication is drawn. The
Prime Minister will also get 1.30 minutes for the
rebuttal.

9. Speaker’s Responsibility and
Power
-Analyzing the arguments made and bills
proposed in the house
- Declaring the temporary
discontinuation of the debate in the
times of necessity
A Speaker will
- Conducting and completing the conduct the debate
formalities of the debating session and the
accordingly spokespersons
-Evaluating the level, basic and (debaters) of each
appropriateness of the debate. team must address
- Allowing the members of the jury board the speaker
to make their analysis and decisions. (debate moderator/
- Reminding and Restricting the adjudicator) before
spokesperson if he continues to make his placing his or her
dialogue after the time allotted is over. dialogue.

10. The audience and the debaters in the house will
have to abide by the decisions of the speaker.
However the speaker cannot interrupt the dialogue
of any spokesperson if the dialogue is taking place
within the allotted time for the spokesperson.

11. Every speaker in the parliament has a set structure
for making their dialogue.
The Prime Minister has to:
- Explain the summary and substance of the motion
of the debate. And clarify if there is any jargon or
specific terms assisting the motion of the debate ( if
there are any such words)
- Present the core of the propositions and interests of
the team.
- Explain the procedures or laws in regard to the bill
or discussion.
- Include the sentences that the Opposition party
might come up with. This will give the speech a
complete dimension.

12. Opposition Leader’s Speech
- Refute and explain if there is
any illogical dialogue made by
the Prime Minister.
- Specify and signify the areas of
decree and disagreement.
- Promote a counter model to
refute the bill presented by the
government side.
- Summarize the possible logical
grounds of the next
spokesperson’s speech.

13. Member of Parliament’s Speech ( both parties):
- Speak according to the summary provided by the group
leader and detail the main logical grounds of the party.
-Refute some of the dialogues
made by the opposition.
-Provide enough logical
ground for own speech
- Summarize the
statements/decisions made by the
party.

14. Points to be noted:
The debaters can
interrupt in
between the
speech made by
the debaters of
the opponent team
through POINT OF
ORDER, POINT OF
PRIVILEGE and
POINT OF
INFORMATION

15. Point of Order:
If a debater does not end his
speech within the given time,
then an extra of 15 seconds is
given to him in order to
complete the speech.
The POO can only be raised
-after that 15 seconds speech
-if a debater introduces a new issue within the motion
in the rebuttal round.
- If the information or decision provided by the
member is misinterpreted by other members.

16. Point of Privilege can de
made by a debater when:
-His dialogue or logical grounds are
being misquoted by the member
of the opposition.
- A team member attacks another
member from the opposite team in
a unruly manner or personally.

17. Point of Information can be raised
when:
- a member wants to know the source of the
information being presented by the member of
the opposite team
-a member asks for a brief explanation of the
grounds provided by the member of the opposite
team.
- A member intends to
know an example or
practicability of the
strategy presented by the
opposite team.

18. The POO will be
raised In The
HouSE with the
permission
from the
Speaker
15 seconds will be allotted to explain the POO raised. If
the point is regarded/not regarded ( in both cases) then 15
seconds time would be deducted from the main speech
being delivered by the current speaker.
It is the final decision of the Speaker to grant or reject a
point.

19. If the Point is taken- ‘ The
Point is well taken.’
If the Point is not taken- ‘
The Point is not taken.’
If the POO can be
successfully placed then
marks/ numbers will be
added to group
coordination.

20. POI can either be taken or rejected by the opponent
team member. But if the point is taken then it cannot
be rejected anymore. If no answer or weak answer is
given to the POI raised, then the answering team will
be penalized with negative marking.
POI can be raised directed without seeking the
permission from the Speaker. The question of the POI
must be completed within 15 seconds since the
answering member will have a 15 seconds deduction
from his original speech delivering time.
Only and Only questions can be asked during the POI.

21. Now you know the whereabouts of Parliamentary Debate, there are
few of the things you need to keep in mind:
-Have clarity in your expression. Debating does not mean
you have to break out into a loud speaker
-Do not make your tone sound quarrelsome.
- Keep your voice in a moderate level so that people can
understand.

22. - Handle your nerves
properly
- Study and study: to
increase critical
thinking
- And listen carefully
rather than
exploding with words
in your mouth.