Feature

“We love debate…”
CU's success story at AUDC 2008

Tabassum Mokhduma

DEBATE is regarded as a thought generating creative tool for nurturing unfettered intellect. It is not only a battle of some aggressive sentences, but also a spirit of rediscovering oneself intellectually. It is not just speaking up amazingly; rather it is a skill where one requires to understand the strictures of the issues one is talking about as well as to discern when to articulate what. This is what debate is all about.

Bangladesh is no more a new name in the world of debate. Bangladeshi debaters have proved their worth in different national and international debate competitions. And very recently, the debaters from University of Chittagong (CU), cemented the truth that Bangladeshi debaters are there to rule the debating world, they have the potential to do so.

After almost a decade the debating community of CU for the first time in its history has taken part in any debate competition outside the country. The debate team comprised A. N. Md. Bahauddin (Yarid) and Md. Rafiul Munir of Department of Finance and Banking and Mostofa-Al-Mamun of Department of Marketing Studies and International Marketing as debaters whereas Mr. Fuad Hasan, Assistant Professor, Department of Marketing Studies and International Marketing was the adjudicator who took part in the 4th Asian Universities Debating Championship (AUDC) 2008, Asia's largest and most prestigious debate competition, held at International Islamic University of Malaysia, Gombak Campus, Kuala Lumpur from 14th to 22nd of May 2008.

Well, what's the point of telling this story? Many reputed universities of our country have been taking part in different international debate competitions long before CU. So what's the big deal? Well, it is a big deal, because this is the team which made history, this is the team which once again proved Bangladeshi debaters’ ability to stand apart from others because of their skill. This is the team which got through the “breaking rounds” of the esteemed debate competition like AUDC, the first ever Bangladeshi debate team to do so in their very first appearance at AUDC, and this is the team which reached the semi-finals of the “English as a Foreign Language” (EFL) category championship of the same event, the first ever and lone Bangladeshi debate team to accomplish such a feat at AUDC, and not to mention, this is the best ever performance by a Bangladeshi debate team at the glorious history of prestigious AUDC. Not only this, Yarid 'broke' into the public speaking round, Mr. Hasan was the adjudicator for consecutive eight rounds of which he was single Chair in a special debate where the Convener of the tournament participated and was Co-Chair in two other debate.

Hmmm…sounds like a fairy tale story…but this is a real story after all. And it was not an easy task to attain all these things in the first ever international appearance and that also in a tournament like AUDC where so many experienced debaters and adjudicators of 82 teams took part, and it was not even easier to turn the first ever international appearance of a university into the best ever performance of its country. Recently I had an opportunity to have a little chit-chat with these debating heroes. Here are the excerpts. “Actually it happened because we all love debate”, was the first thing the team said when asked about their success. When we reached the AUDC 2008, there were all the big names of the Asian debates, we being the new comer. We had nothing to lose actually, and we were not under any type of pressure which usually the well-known teams face. So what we did is try our best, believed in ourselves and not even for once thought that we cannot do better. That brought us the results”, said Mamun.

“It had been a great experience, though we lost to University Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta of Indonesia in the semi-final, but we rediscovered the art named debate in a different way”, he added. Another debater Rafiul, was really amazed to find out his debating abilities in a new manner. “It was a different experience, I mean, what I didn't learn in the last 5-6 months, at AUDC I learned it in the span of only 5-6 days, though I'm totally an amateur in the world of debate”, he said.

Yarid, who 'broke' in the public speaking round, said that he was really surprised to see the dedication of the organizers for debate. “It was really good to see them working round the clock to make the event a successful one, to bring out the best of the debaters” he said. “That was one of the key factors that they were very proactive and supportive”, added Rafiul.

When asked about what should be done to raise that standard of debate in our country they all agreed on the same point that there is nothing better than regular practice to augment the quality of the debaters. “In Malaysia debate is treated with equal importance like other major subjects like Math or English. They firmly believe that it is debate which can sharpen one's communicative and argumentative skills thus building confidence and creativity”, said Mamun.

The lone adjudicator of the team Mr. Fuad Hasan, who is also an Ex-President of Chittagong University Debating Society (CUDS) said, “In Malaysia debate is mandatory in all educational institutions. There are professional coaches to take classes on debate and to guide the debaters. Moreover, there are special budget only for debating purposes in the universities. They use debate as a tool for enhancing communicative proficiencies. If we want to go forward we have to introduce debate from the elementary level on a compulsory basis”. He further added that one must have to be bold and confident, have to abort the tendency of disliking to convince others through rational discourse when it comes to facing differing views and not expect unquestionable agreement from others on talks about any issue. “Apart from these, we have to increase both the standard as well as the numbers of debate competition to discover new debating talents thus enhancing the debating excellence”, he said.

When requested to say something for the upcoming debaters, Rafi and Yarid said that they themselves are upcoming debaters! Then Yarid added, “Debate is all about practicing. The more you practice, the better you become”. “To improve one's debating abilities one must study hard, seeking help from the experienced and constantly badger them to learn more for their own good. And there is no need to feel down”, Mamun said. Rafi further added that one must improve the matters of debate as well as practice hard and participate in as many competitions as possible to perk up one's debating dexterity.

After such a brilliant performance it is quite surprising that this was the first ever international appearance by a CU team. It's difficult to think why it took so long for CU to send a team abroad. “In fact, we were trying to participate in international events for a long time but it didn't happen until this year's AUDC because of some technical problems, lack of sponsors being one of them”, said Mr. Hasan. He further added, “But this year we were lucky enough to have EXIM Bank beside us, who made us the only team in this year's championship to be sponsored wholly”.

Though Mr. Fuad is a well known figure in the field of debating and adjudicating within this country, he also proved his capability as an adjudicator in the international debating arena in his very first appearance, and his performance at AUDC simply put on the picture about his aptitude. “Actually, the overall concept of the adjudication has changed totally. Previously, we used to draw the picture of an elderly, serious-looking highly educated person when we were told about the adjudicators. But in present days things have changed. Now many, young, learned people are taking the responsibilities of the adjudicator. It's no longer important to be older and serious-looking for being an adjudicator. What is important is one to have his concept clear about what is happening around the globe; he should listen to the debaters carefully and should have the ability of reasoning and counter-reasoning the logic placed by the debaters. In short, the present day adjudicators have to be like an incalculably intelligent person with an empty head”, said the gifted adjudicator.

Well, it's obvious that if anyone wants to modify the world, he has to start by modifying and rediscovering himself and a fruitful practice of debate can do the ultimate magic to perform this difficult act. This team achieved this heroic feat because they tried to explore their potential to show the world that they are not there to step back, rather they are there to show the world their ability. Their love, passion and dedication were commendable to the extreme. Now, to accomplish the goal of establishing democracy in Bangladesh as well as creating rational thinking ability among the people, we have to foster the culture of debate and create and prepare the debaters for our society.