A three-day National Debate Festival 2025 began with the slogan, the July Uprising Through My Eyes, at the Jagannath University in Dhaka on Friday.
The JnU Debating Society has organised the festival with the support from the Dhaka District Administration and the Dhaka Zila Parishad.
JnU vice-chancellor Professor Md Rezaul Karim inaugurated the festival at the seminar hall of public administration department of the university.
The VC said that the July uprising marked a turning point in the national history of the country. 鈥楢t a time of growing division, we must remember that the spirit of the uprising aimed to establish an equitable society and that must continue to guide our path forward.鈥�
Chaired by additional deputy commissioner of Dhaka, Fuara Khatun, JnU Teachers鈥� Association general secretary Professor Rais Uddin was present as special guest at the festival.
Chief engineer of the Dhaka Zila Parishad Shafiqul Islam and administrative officer Md Shahabuddin were also present at the inaugural ceremony of the festival.
Mentioning that debaters are guided by logic and justice, Rais Uddin stated, 鈥楧ebate sharpens critical thinking, confidence and the freedom to express independent opinions. Debaters must be tolerant of differing views and always aim to arrive at truth through reason.鈥�
The opening session was conducted by Main Al Mubashshir, president of the JnU Debating Society, along with Md Mehedi Hasan, general secretary of the society.
Mehedi Hasan Prova, a JnU student injured in the July uprising, shared his personal testimony at the ceremony.
The festival is being coordinated by Professor Muhammad Nurullah, moderator of the JnU Debating Society.
The final round of the debate competition is scheduled for August 5. This year鈥檚 festival includes participation from 32 universities and 32 school and college-level institutions 鈥� 16 schools and 16 colleges. Each team consists of three debaters.
