Feature
Bangladeshi Teams Excel at the AUDC
Muhammad Abdul Latif
THE Asian Universities Debating Championship (AUDC) is the most competitive debating tournament in Asia. The best debate teams from all over Asia participate in this tournament with great enthusiasm to outperform each other. The championship is held annually based on a competitive bid by the universities to host it. A total of 82 teams and 120 adjudicators from all over Asia participated in the tournament held recently (14th 21st May, 2008) at the International Islamic University Malaysia. This year, the Asian Universities Debating Championship saw a great show of talent, skill and camaraderie from the participants from Bangladesh. A sizeable number of Bangladeshi teams and adjudicators representing the BRAC University, Chittagong University, East West University, and Independent University of Bangladesh also attended the tournament.
After debating in eight preliminary and four knock-out rounds, the Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) emerged as the Champion after a close fight against Ateneo De Manila University of the Philippines in the grand final. Bina Nusantara University (Indonesia) was awarded the Champion of English as a Foreign Language (EforL) category and Glenn Tuazon of the Philippines as the Best Speaker of the Tournament. The tournament proved an uphill battle for all teams with the best of the teams and judges of Asia participating and showcasing their knowledge and skills.
Teams from our motherland had their fair share of glory with the largest ever participation of Bangladeshi teams in the AUDC. The teams from Chittagong University and East West University progressed respectively to the Semifinal and Quarterfinal of the EforL category. Md Sohab Sayeed of the East West University was awarded the Best Speaker of the EforL category. He was also among the finalists of the Public Speaking Competition.
The Bangladeshi contingent at this year's AUDC showed excellent team work. Recognising the good work that the Bangladeshi contingent has put forth, the Asian Universities Debating Union awarded the bid to host the 2009 tournament to Bangladesh (East West University) over the Philippines (College of Saint Benilde). English debate in Bangladesh will gain further grounds when next year the best teams from Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia and other Asian countries come to Bangladesh for the tournament. Our local teams will have the chance to debate against the best of Asia. Let the work begin now for local teams to show their mettle in the tournament in 2009. On behalf of the Bangladeshi community at the International Islamic University Malaysia, we congratulate our Bangladeshi participants for a job well done.
Note: The writer, Mr. Muhammad Abdul Latif, is the Head of the Speech & Interpersonal Communication Enhancement Department at the Student Development Division of the International Islamic University Malaysia.
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