Feature

The ability to speak fluently and assertively with aplomb and poise in a public forum and hold the attention of the listening audience is a godsend great blessing. Students, involved in debating contests at schools, colleges and universities have that ability and blessing to a varying degree. And the debates in the student tournaments have now reached a new height in quality, standard and intensity.

In the recent past there have been a handful of legendary university debaters in the scene, mostly from Dhaka University, North South University and lately from IBA, who have blazed dazzling trails both locally and internationally in the excellence of their arguments, brilliance of their oral presentation and rationality and strength of their expressed viewpoints. Their prodigy and legend, renown and reputation have been there for others to see, enjoy and appreciate, and for the current crop of up and coming, image building, fledgling and flourishing debaters to emulate and hold as exemplary models and ideal.

North South University (NSU), the first private university in the country, was the first to send student representatives to take part in the Interuniversity World Debating Competition to imprint the name of Bangladesh in the international debating arena in 1996. NSU debaters have since regularly participated in this annual event. A slew of other academic institutions, including BUET, Dhaka University, Independent University, East West University and IBA, among others, have also sent teams to this once a year contest. The various teams have taken part in other international tournaments, such as SAARC or South Asian Debating Championship, the All Asians Inter-Varsity Debate Championship, etc. As a direct consequence, the level and excellence of debaters have been enhanced, and the intensity and competitiveness in frequently held interuniversity debating contests in the country have grown appreciatively.

Many public and private universities are keenly, ardently and enthusiastically trying to assert the superiority of their debaters and bragging right of the institution through concerted efforts and frequent participation in various competitions. The consensus in the debating community is that North South University and IBA are the top two current debating establishments with a few others within close proximity. The top debaters at IBA are Arbaaz and Ridwan and the corresponding two at NSU are Nayeem and Sinha. In the recently held World University Debating Championship 2008 in Thailand, Nayeem scored the highest individual speaker point among all Bangladeshi debaters. Last year at the same tournament, held in Vancouver, Canada, Ridwan and Kibria of IBA were the highest individual scorers. The NSU team of Nayeem and Sinha reached the Octo finals (top 32 teams) in Thailand, the only team from Bangladesh ever to achieve such remarkable feat.

North South University will host the 'All Asians Inter-Varsity Debate Championship 2008' in Dhaka from May 7 through May 13, 2008. This prominent event will be held for the first time in Bangladesh as well as the South Asia region. Over 400 participants from renowned Asian universities in 16 countries, such as China, Japan, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, etc., will assemble in what is likely to be the largest and most diverse Asian youth gathering in Bangladesh. The Daily Star is the event media partner.

All Asians Inter-Varsity Debate Championship is the most prestigious international debating tournament in Asia, and the third largest in the world. It will serve as a great forum to interact, and exchange cultural mores, points of view, and social and economic perspectives. This will offer an ideal platform to project Bangladesh in a favorable light to a significant part of enlightened Asia. This will be an opportunity for the aficionados to view in person various debates of the superior caliber and quality.

Why is debating important? What purpose do discourse, arguments and opinions on largely simulated and pseudo issues serve? What is the big deal? The partial answer includes, debating builds character, gives participants the confidence and strength to discuss and deal with real life contentious issues with poise, skill, equanimity and good sense. If you have ever watched the spellbinding, enthralling and scintillating, sophisticated and composed but ascorbic and stinging debates on the floor of the British House of Commons or the US senate, you would grasp the significance and value of good debating. Now, young men and women at various universities here are fully capable and self-assured to debate with the same eagerness and passion.

Most of all, debating boosts, hones and empowers the “weapon of language' which is immensely more powerful and a lot more preferable than the 'language of weapon.' And finally, unlike the US Business leaders, the enlightened and articulate debaters would never prefer death over public speaking.

(The author is the Special Assistant to the Vice Chancellor at North South University)

NATIONAL Debate Federation Bangladesh (NDF BD) as the most powerful and energetic debate organisation in Bangladesh is always committed and dedicated to promoting debate. Members are determined to introduce debate as a new form of entertainment that is enriched with Logic. With this aim in view, National Debate Federation Bangladesh organised several show-debates on the happy occasion of Bangla New Year celebration 1415. This time these debates were relayed on air by Baishakhi Television. Earlier, NDF BD also organised show debates on Independence Day, 26th March, which was also relayed by Baishakhi Television.

All the debates were held in parliamentary format in Bangla. The following topics were selected for the debates:

i) Topic: Ei songshod mone kore je,"Trishordho somoyi jiboner srestho somoy."

Participating teams were from Dhaka University

Jahangirnagar University and AIUB 1.This debate was basically a Fun Debate and between teachers and students. Next topic was: "Ei songshod mone kore je, Nobo borsho utshob noy, bilashita matro." Participating teams were from Dhaka University, Comilla Victoria College, Eden Women's College, Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Rajshahi Medical College and MIST.

The next topic was: "Ei songshod mone kore je, Bortoman projonmo nobo borsher chetona bimukh.” Participating institutions were Dhaka University, Eden Women's College)

Chittagong University, NDF BD and SMC. "Ei songshod mone kore je, Bitorkoke shohopattho shuchi hisebe ontorvukto kora hok,” was the next topic. Participating teams were from DU, AIUB, JU, Home Economics College and CU.

The fifth topic was : "Ei songshod mone kore je, Premer cheye bondhutter shomprorkoi modhur."

Participating teams were from: DIU, DU, KU, RMC, LLS and AUST. The sixth topic was: "Ei songshod mone kore je, Akash shongskriti bortoman projonmoke bipodgami korse." Participating teams were from: UIU, DU, AIUB and DIU

(Department of Mathematics, Dhaka University)