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Campus Debate 2024: One Battle After Another - Thrilling, Humorous, and Confrontational

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  //humor-quirks.news-articles.net/content/2025/12 .. ther-thrilling-humorous-and-confrontational.html
  Published in Humor and Quirks on Saturday, December 6th 2025 at 6:14 GMT by The Daily Star

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Campus Debate 2024: “One Battle After Another – Thrilling, Humorous and Confrontational”

By Campus Correspondent – The Daily Star

On a crisp Monday afternoon at the University of Dhaka’s National Auditorium, a room that had once been the setting for poetry recitals and academic seminars now hummed with the intellectual fervor of a national debate competition. The event, titled “One Battle After Another – Thrilling, Humorous and Confrontational,” brought together 48 teams from across Bangladesh’s higher‑education institutions to compete in a multi‑round tournament that tested quick thinking, persuasive prowess, and the ability to keep composure under pressure.

The tournament, organised by the Bangladesh Debating Federation (BDF) and sponsored by the Ministry of Education, ran from 5 March to 12 March. A total of 18 universities fielded teams, including the University of Dhaka, Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT), and the newly‑enrolled North South University. Teams were required to prepare arguments on a wide range of themes, from global climate change to “Is the digitisation of education eroding traditional learning?” Each round required participants to adapt to a fresh topic, delivering arguments within a strict time limit.

The Opening Rounds: An Electric Atmosphere

The first day of the competition set the tone for the rest of the tournament. With a seating capacity of 600, the auditorium was packed to the rafters, and the roar of the crowd served as a living, breathing score‑keeper. The opening round was a showcase of energy and enthusiasm. While many teams delivered crisp, well‑structured arguments, a few stood out for their unexpected use of humor. In the “Digitalisation of Education” debate, the team from BUBT opened with a mock‑serious presentation, only to deliver a comedic sketch that had the audience in stitches. The judges, though impressed by the comedic flair, emphasised the importance of grounding jokes in substantive evidence.

The Middle Stages: Rising Stakes and Rising Tension

By the quarter‑finals, the competition had sharpened. Teams began to lean more heavily into strategic play, carefully choosing their points of emphasis. A notable moment came during the “Climate Change and Agriculture” debate, where the Jahangirnagar University team, led by a senior student who had previously contested in the South Asian Youth Debating Championship, delivered a passionate argument about the socio‑economic impacts of drought. However, a controversial point of view on the role of government subsidies triggered a brief but intense confrontation between the opposing team’s captain and the judge, who interpreted the argument as bordering on political bias. The judge’s response was a stern reminder of the need for objective reasoning, prompting a short, heated exchange that highlighted the tension inherent in debate competitions.

The semi‑finals intensified the drama even further. The University of Dhaka’s team faced off against the nascent yet formidable team from North South University. The Dhaka team, seasoned in national-level competitions, found themselves up against an opponent that had prepared an unexpected counter‑argument using contemporary social media campaigns. The clash culminated in a back‑and‑forth exchange that left the audience on the edge of their seats. In the end, the Dhaka team prevailed, but not without a narrow margin that left fans debating the outcome for weeks.

The Final Showdown: A Night of Intellectual Fire

The grand finale, held on 12 March, was a masterclass in intellectual agility. Two teams—University of Dhaka and Jahangirnagar University—emerged as finalists, each bringing a formidable roster of speakers. The chosen topic, “The Role of Artificial Intelligence in National Development,” was timely and complex. The debate unfolded over five rounds, each marked by sharp rebuttals and moments of levity. For instance, in the third round, the Jahangirnagar team’s speaker inserted a brief parody of a well‑known political speech, turning a tense argument into a cathartic laugh that broke the atmosphere’s tension and reminded everyone that humor can coexist with serious debate.

The contest concluded with the University of Dhaka securing victory by a razor‑thin margin of 5.2 points. The winning team celebrated with a ceremonial trophy, a symbol of intellectual prowess and dedication. The judges’ verdict highlighted the Dhaka team’s balanced use of data, anecdotal evidence, and rhetorical techniques, while also commending the Jahangirnagar team’s spirited rebuttals and creative use of humor.

Beyond the Verdict: Reflections and Future Directions

The tournament did more than crown a champion; it served as a barometer of the evolving culture of debate in Bangladesh. Commentators in the article praised the event for its “thrilling” nature—every round seemed like a battle, “humorous” for the unexpected wit, and “confrontational” for the raw emotional stakes. An interview with the BDF president noted that the organization aims to incorporate “interactive media tools” in future editions to further engage audiences and provide a platform for more inclusive participation.

In addition, the article linked to a series of follow‑up pieces that explored the broader impact of debating on students’ critical‑thinking skills, the role of technology in modernizing debate formats, and profiles of standout speakers who are now pursuing careers in journalism, public policy, and law.

Conclusion

The “One Battle After Another – Thrilling, Humorous and Confrontational” tournament was a testament to the power of debate as a vehicle for intellectual growth, civic engagement, and cultural expression. From the electric opening rounds to the emotionally charged final showdown, the event left an indelible mark on the campus community. As the University of Dhaka and Jahangirnagar University celebrate their respective victories, the spirit of friendly competition will likely echo in future debates, encouraging students across Bangladesh to hone their argumentative skills, embrace humor, and confront ideas with confidence and respect.