The three-day 14th FDF National Debate Festival concluded at the local Kabi Jasimuddin Hall in Faridpur on Saturday evening with highlighting a collective commitment to logic, critical thinking, creativity and camaraderie among the youth.
Chowdhury Nayab Yusuf, Member of Parliament for the Faridpur-3 constituency, attended as the chief guest and officially declared the festival closed. He unveiled a commemorative souvenir titled ‘Maha Kolahole Arambho Holo Diner Mohotsab’ published to mark the 20th anniversary of the Faridpur Debate Forum (FDF).
Organized by the FDF, the festival drew widespread participation from debaters, students, teachers and guests from across the country. The tournament segments, hosted at the Degree section of Government Rajendra College featured 26 school teams 12 college teams from Faridpur and 16 open-category teams. The second day saw expanded competition involving 32 schools and colleges alongside 16 open Asian Parliamentary (AP) teams representing 32 universities also turning the venue into a dynamic hub of intellectual discourse.
The closing ceremony included a final debate, formal discussions and an awards presentation honoring competition winners, followed by a cultural performance. Special guests addressing the audience included Engineer Abdus Sobhan, Managing Director of Ocotex Group; Professor S. M. Abdul Halim, Principal of Faridpur Government Rajendra College, A. K. M. Kibria Swapan, Member Secretary of District BNP, Towhidul Islam Stalin, President of Faridpur Literature and Culture Development Organization and Golam Rabbani Bhuiyan Ratan the Public Prosecutor at the Faridpur Judge Court.
FDF President Fahmida Mofiz Srishti presided over the ceremony, moderated by General Secretary Md. Khairul Alam Himalaya.
Organizers emphasized that the event served as more than just a tournament; it offered a platform for young minds to exchange ideas, build friendships and cultivate reasoned thought. By dedicating this year’s milestone event to the famous "Polli Kobi" (Folk Poet) Jasimuddin, the forum aimed to deepen connection between younger generations and the rich literary and cultural heritage of Faridpur.
