A revolution in Bangladesh debating

It was back in 2016 when Independent University, Bangladesh Debate Club (IUBDC) was given the responsibility to organise a competition for school students. The prime goal for this competition was to ensure that students learn and participate in something beyond the traditional education system. That is how Ascension was born. 

In Ascension 2017, debaters from around the world came to know that there is a university in Bangladesh where a passionate group of people are trying to break the geographical barriers to reach the world of international debating.  IUBDC sent its first team to United Asian Debating Championship (UADC) at Bangdung in 2018. It was a great achievement to become the champion of Asia in the very first attempt.

Now, Ascension is the big debate tournament in the whole of South Asia with maximum numbers of international participation. World renowned debate personalities attend Ascension which significantly adds to the value of the tournament and ensures an enriched debating experience for the participants.

This year there were more than 120 teams from various institutions- national and international. The adjudication core panel of Ascension 2019 were Jason Xiao from University of Oxford, Sara Rahim from International Islamic University Malaysia, Mubarrat Wassey from International Islamic University Malaysia, Lucia Arce from University of Cambridge, Jessica Musulin from Australia National University and Taosif Amin Khan from Institute of Business Administration, Dhaka University.

There were three breaking categories-- High School, Novice and Open. All the teams participated in six preliminary rounds and after knock-out rounds in the quarter finals and Octofinals, eight teams from each category respectively, a total of 24 teams qualified to the semi-finals to debate for the championship titles.

Academia School comprising Mahatir Mahammud and Manal Binte Iqbal Khan became the champion of High School category. SFX Greenherald International School comprising Aonkita Dey and Reeshi Bhattacharjee became the runners up.

The other finalist teams in the respective category includes, Manarat Dhaka International School and College comprising Seeam Marjan Hossain and Md Hasibul Kadir, Rajuk Uttara Model School and College represented by Unayza Anika and Senin Chowdhury.

 Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Dhaka University team 4 comprising Aymanul Islam Cyfer and Syed Shadab Tajwar was titled as Novice champion while Islamic University of Technology team comprising Zahin Raidah and Taukir Azam Chowdhury were runners up. The other two finalist teams were Government Science College comprising Marjukhar Rabib and Asraful Alam Pranto and Jahangirnagar University team represented by Sumaiya Tasnova and Rokeya Asha.

IBA, Dhaka University team 1 comprising Sajid Asbat Khandaker and Sourodip Paul was crowned as the Champion of Ascension 2019 in the open category defeating two other teams of the same institution and Oxford University comprising Kit Mercer and Rachel O' Nunain were the runners up. The other two finalist teams in open category were, IBA, Dhaka University team comprising Kazi Ashfaqul Huq and Wasif Amin Khan and another team of the same institute represented by Rifayat Zafeer Wafee and Shamsul Nawed Nafees.

Top speakers were awarded depending on their points during the preliminary rounds. Inqiyad Patwary from Mastermind Dhanmondi became the best speaker in High School Category. Rohit Midha from team Igniting Mind India, became the best novice speaker. Sajid Asbat Khandaker from IBA, Dhaka University became the best open speaker.

Also, the speakers of the final round were awarded for their highest scores. Mahathir Mahammud from Academia School was titled as the best speaker of the final in High School Category. Aymanul Islam from Institute of Business Administration, Dhaka University became best novice speaker of the final. Sajid Asbat Khandaker from IBA,  Dhaka University became the best open speaker of the finals.

Dignitaries in the closing ceremony included Milan Pagon,vice chancellor (acting), Rashed Chowdhury, former chairperson of Board of Trustees (BoT), MD Anwarul Islam, registrar, Lutfe M Ayub and Husne Ara Ali, members of the BoT, Dr Syed Serajul Huq, former vice chairman, ESTCDT.  Ashraful Amin, director of council affairs, Lima Choudhury, deputy director and head of admissions and financial aid, Priyanka Dey, assistant director of admissions and financial aid, and Towhid Bin Muzaffar, faculty advisor of IUBDC were there too.

Ascension 2019 was more than debating. There were ancillary segments with art exhibition and poetry competition. The opening ceremony was a breath-taking one with spellbound performance of orchestra and dance by 100 musicians. The closing ceremony kept every participant engaged with amazing performance of the Circus Police and Nemesis. 

The writer is a student of School of Business, Independent University Bangladesh. She can be reached at [email protected]