“12th BDC-JDC PreWorlds” presented by AIUB

Bangladesh Debating Council (BDC) and Josephite Debating Club (JDC) of St. Joseph Higher Secondary School came together to organise the 'AIUB Presents 12th BDC-JDC PreWolds 2015' on October 29-31. The biggest school debating competition in the country, it featured 64 teams and served as the first stage of the selection procedure for Team Bangladesh for next year's 'World Schools Debating Champions'.

For over a decade now, the top ranking debaters from this competition qualify for the 'National Camp', a rigorous training camp from which the five-member Team Bangladesh is selected to compete in the 'World Schools' tournament. 

This year, the tournament was hosted by JDC and was the largest instalment till date, featuring the highest number of teams so far and, for the first time, a 'Novice Break' category. This meant that after the first round, a separate knock out division was contested, consisting of the highest ranked teams among the more inexperienced teams that didn't make it to the main knock out rounds.

"The circuit is growing exponentially," said Fardeen Ameen, Vice Chair of BDC.  "We've achieved considerable international success as of late and that entire movement started with 'PreWorlds'. This tournament continues to inspire kids to debate and grow as analytical thinkers. This goes on to help them at every stage of life," he added. 

BDC wanted to reach out to more schools and started 'BDC Outreach', a series of workshops that were held in schools like Government Laboratory School who weren't regular in the English school debating scene. As a result, several schools such as Dhaka Residential Model College, Dhaka College, Govt Lab and others participated in the tournament for the first time. Among them, DRMC also managed to qualify for the knock out rounds, which was a sign of Outreach's success. 

JDC is the oldest school debate club in the country and also the pioneer of the parliamentary debate format in Bangladesh. Nawazul Kabir, Chief Moderator of JDC, said "It's a great honour to host the biggest tournament of the year. There was a lot of pressure to live up to the expectations but thanks to the Almighty, we managed to deliver a great tournament". 

Sheikh Rifayet Daiyan, from the victorious Academia team, commented on how the tournament has helped him grow as a person: "This was my third PreWorlds and it was the best I've attended. Every year I come here, I learn something new."

Acadmia won the tournament in the main (Open) category and Sunnydale was runner-up. In the 'Novice' Category, Aga Khan School became champion while Mastermind was runner-up. The top 44 debaters from the speaker rankings were selected for the 'National Camp', from which the final five to represent Bangladesh will be selected. 

American International University Bangladesh was the title sponsor of the event while Confidence Group was co-sponsor. Daily Prothom Alo was the associate partner; Navigators were the digital partner and Hotel Lakeshore was the hospitality partner.

Mosammad Shahanara Monica, Director, UN, Ministry of Foreign Affairs was present at the inauguration ceremony alongside Fardeen Ameen, Vice Chair, BDC; Nawazul Kabir, Chief Moderator, JDC; and Brother Robi Purification, CSC, Principal, St. Joseph Higher Secondary School.

Professor Dr. Mizanur Rahman, Director, Human Rights Commission, was present at the final along with Professor Dr. Charles C Villanueva, Pro Vice Chancellor and Dean, Faculty of Business Administration, AIUB; Tanvir Ahmed Haroon, Board of Directors, BDC and Lecturer at Independent University Bangladesh; and Brother Montrojoy Tripura, CSC, Vice Principal, St. Joseph Higher Secondary School.