Nat'l debate festival begins in Rangamati on Feb 17

National Debate Federation (NDF) President Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron speaks at a press conference at the National Press Club yesterday. PHOTO: STAR

National Debate Federation (NDF), in cooperation with Global Village Rangamati, will organise the debate.

"It will provide the participants with an excellent opportunity to better understand the novelty and uniqueness of the indigenous people and their culture," said NDF President Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron at a press conference yesterday.

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The occasion will also help narrow down the gap in mutual understanding of ethnic people and Bengali settlers, he said, adding that a total of two thousand debaters including 1, 500 school, college and university students from across the country and five hundred from the hill tracts region will take part in the festival.

Hasan said this is for the first time a national level debate show is going to take place in the hilly region to inspire participation of young tribal people in an effort to establish reasoning as an instrument for a better society.

"The participants will have an opportunity to experience a distinct lifestyle of the hilly inhabitants," said General Secretary of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum Sanjib Drong.

"The disturbance in the hill tracts is a political as well as national problem," said Moni Swapan Dewan, deputy minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs.

"There must be minimum consensus at the national level for political stability and poverty alleviation activities in the region," he added.

The festival will include various events including debates in various formats, cultural functions, public speaking competition, river cruise, video show and campfire.

The federation will bear the expenses for participants. They have to pay Tk 350 only for registration.