Feature

Chitchat with a debating personae

[Interviewed By Zannatul Lamea (Eshita), on behalf of Star Campus]

Date : November 26,2007
Venue: Assumption University, Thailand

And with the drums rolling began “The World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC)” the largest debating tournament, commonly known as "Worlds". For 2008, the appointed representative of Bangladesh at Worlds Debating Council is Khondker Zunaed Rabbani. I had a chance to have a little chitchat with him, along with two other prominent debaters- Asif Newaz and Sarajit Baral, who marked their high-profile accomplishments in the debating arena, home and abroad

“If you ask me my greatest achievement in debate, it would be bringing “The All Asians 2008” Debate Championship in Bangladesh. It's a great achievement for the entire country, which I think will take the debating sector of Bangladesh at least 20 years ahead. Once we are done with “The All Asians” our dream is to host “The Worlds” sometime in 2011-2012; sounds far fetched....but it's good to have dreams.” -says Khondker Zunaed Rabbani, who was also the President of NSU Debate Club during 2005-2006. He, along with Sarajit Baral and Asif Newaz had initiated the idea of All Asians being organized for the first time in South Asia and actively lobbied in the international community to bring the All Asians in Bangladesh. When asked about current prospects and problems of debaters of Bangladesh, Zunaed Rabbani said, “Actually I am proud of our debating community, because they have managed to prove themselves at various national and international tournaments, in spite of having limited exposure and scanty facilities that promote debating. Even in Dhaka, there are only a few common debate tournaments held at regular basis, so the quality of competitors remains unchanged. International debates create a homogeneous culture, one gets to know and compare the actual debating standards based on their quality and performance against the top debaters, it helps a lot to learn, to sharpen the debating skills and gradually reach the global level. What we need to promote the debating community further is to host more international tournaments, because without exposure, debate never reaches its core competencies. Also more participation is required from debaters from all regions of Bangladesh. Plus contribution of sponsors to host more debate tournaments, a bit academic help, encouragement and proper guidance can lift our debaters to a whole new level, enabling them to compete against the toughest debaters both on national and global level.”

Asif Newaz , speaking about his experience at worlds says “Actually, I started debating because due to it, I could spend more time outside home. To me, debating was “just for fun”, because I thoroughly enjoyed it. My first experience of Worlds was in 2003, back then it was held at Malaysia. Gradually I discovered another side of debate the idea that you are expressing your point of views, defending your logics in front of a huge panel of audience-who are listening to you, maybe contemplating about your speech, and breaking with a roar of applause to show their appreciation- is itself enthralling. This encouraged me a lot, which significantly contributed to be the top scorer among all the Bangladeshis at the Worlds.”

Asif Newaz also added, “When it comes to experiences at worlds, I reckon the achievement of Mahfuz Sadique- currently working at BBC, London. He was the first one from Bangladesh, to be selected at Octo Finals of the Worlds. Among the 32 teams, he was one of the top ten finalists.”

At the 13th All Asians, the first debater from Bangladesh to break as an adjudicator was Sarajit Baral. He was one of the top 30 adjudicators among around 150 adjudicators from all over Asia. Basically Sarajit Baral inaugurated the “breaking” of adjudicators from Bangladesh. Sinha Ibne Humayun, a prominent debater from North South University, kept the trend alive by breaking at next Asians. According to Sarajit Baral ,“In essence, debate had notable impact on both my personality and career. I would say, whatever I am today, I am because of debate.”

(Special thanks to Khondker Zunaed Rabbani-The representative Of Bangladesh at World Debating Council, Asif Newaz, Sarajit Baral & Sinha Ibne Humayun for sparing their time for the interview, specially during the hectic schedule of flying to the Worlds 2008)