A science debate competition featuring students from eight schools was held at the VIP auditorium of Pabna Press Club on Wednesday under the joint initiative of Samakal Suhrid Samabesh and Bangladesh Freedom Foundation (BFF).
Held under the slogan “Debate means logic, science means liberation,” the event brought together students in a lively and competitive contest. Pabna District School emerged as champion, while Pabna Collectorate Public School and College finished as runners-up.
Nusrat Jahan, a student of Pabna Collectorate Public School and College, was named the best debater.
Pabna Deputy Commissioner Aminul Islam later distributed crests and certificates among the winners as the chief guest at the closing ceremony.
Students from Square High School and College, Pabna Government Girls’ High School, Adarsha Girls’ High School, Central Girls’ High School, Shaheed Fazlur Haque Municipal High School and Gopal Chandra Institute (GCI) also took part in the competition, along with the champion and runners-up teams.
The competition was inaugurated in the morning by mathematician S M Mahbub Alam, acting principal of Nazirganj High School and College.
The programme began with recitation from the Holy Quran and the national anthem. More than 150 students, teachers and guardians attended and enjoyed the debate sessions.
ABM Fazlur Rahman, Pabna staff reporter of Samakal, chaired the closing programme. Pabna Press Club President Akhteruzzaman Akhter, General Secretary Zahurul Islam and former secretary Utpal Mirza were among those who spoke as special guests.
The judging panel comprised S M Farid, associate professor of chemistry at Government Edward College, Pabna; retired government official Firoza Khan; and journalist Shafik Al Kamal.
Dr Mansur Alam, president of the Sahitya o Debate Club, Pabna, served as moderator.
District administration magistrate Didarul Islam, former Pabna Press Club president Rumi Khandaker, senior vice-president poet Chhifat Rahman Sanam, former Pabna Reporters Unity president Rajiur Rahman Rumi, former general secretary Kazi Mahbub Morshed Babla, The Daily Star correspondent Ahmed Humayun Kabir Topu and other journalists and local representatives were present at the event.
Members of Suhrid Mahbuba Kajal, ABM Farib Rahman, Saikat Hossain Himel, Md Mahmud, Badal, Faiyaz and Alim Jinnah also provided support in organising the programme.
