Debating
Out of all the sports and pastimes that we Bangladeshis are familiar with (whether physical or intellectual) debating (in English) has been greatly successful. Bangladesh has been participating in the World Universities Debating Championships (WUDC) since Glasgow '89. Yet with little sponsorship or whatever we got, debating has brightened our image abroad. Great debating talents such as Abdun Nur Tushar (DMCH), Chowdhury Quaseed (NSU), Fahad Karim (NSU), Azim Ahmed (IUB), Tanvir Ahmed (IUB), Shameem Reza (DU), Junaed Rabbani (NSU), Rashedul Hasan Stalin (EWU), Bulbul Hasan (DU), Shaqer Rasheed (DU), Samira Rahman (NSU), Meher Nigar Joon (DU), and Ishraque Alam Rudro (NSU) have represented our country very well as debaters, Let me give you an insight into what we have accomplished. Out of 1800 universities which actually took part in the world championships, 414 are given world ranking. Among them NSU is ranked 78, IUB 119, East West 132, IUT 140, IBA 154, Dhaka University 255, Turkish Hope 277, BUET 336. Our boys have got world ranking and yet people are willing to sponsor sports and games where we don't have much of a future. We must not confuse debating with arguing. Debating is the process of reaching a concrete solution with logic and counter logic. To be a top debater you must have a vast knowledge base and from that base you must be able to generate new ideas. This year for the first time our school friends took part in the World Schools Debating Championship in Cardiff, Wales, UK under the guidance and leadership of Bangladesh Debating Council and Rashedul Hasan Stalin, Azim Ahmed, Tanvir Ahmed, Mabroor Wassey, and Ishraque Alam. For the first time in our debating history, Bangladesh went to the Quarter Finals.
I thank those who have contributed to debating in Bangladesh.
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