BRAC Secondary School, Jaldhaka, Nilphamari, claimed the championship title, while BRAC Secondary School, Damurhuda, Chuadanga, finished as the runner-up in the BRAC Secondary School Debate Festival 2024-2025.

The debate festival concluded with a compelling display of arguments and rebuttals, as students demonstrated their analytical acumen. 

In celebration of International Women's Day, the festival saw enthusiastic participation from BRAC Secondary School students across the country. The grand finale took place on Monday, 10 March, at BRAC Centre in Mohakhali, Dhaka.

The motion for the final debate was "Economic independence is more crucial than changing societal perspectives for women's empowerment". Participants presented their arguments using data analysis, real-life examples, and logical reasoning to defend their stance, captivating the invited guests, judges, and audience.

The event was graced by Moutushi Kabir, Senior Director, People, Culture, and Communications, BRAC and Safi Rahman Khan, Director, Education, Skills Development, and Migration, BRAC. The debate was moderated by renowned debater and media personality Dr Abdun Noor Tushar, with members of the Bangladesh Debate Federation serving on the judging panel. 

Moutushi Kabir encouraged students to extend their voices beyond debate, urging them to speak out against violence towards children and women and any violations of human rights at every stage of life.

Safi Rahman Khan highlighted the importance of engaging in creative activities like debate alongside academic learning. He called on students, parents, and teachers to actively support such initiatives.

Dr Abdun Nur Tushar encouraged participating students to broaden their thinking, stating, "Debate should not be limited to merely presenting information; rather, students must articulate their thoughts through reasoning and argumentation."

The event concluded with the presentation of awards and certificates to the champion and runner-up teams, as well as the best speaker.

Launched in commemoration of International Women's Day, the BRAC Secondary School Debate Festival plays a vital role in raising awareness about women's rights, empowerment, and equality. This year, 613 students from 13 BRAC Secondary Schools across Bangladesh participated in the competition, with 58 per cdent of them being female students. 

The competition was structured in three phases to enhance students' reasoning, analytical thinking, and public speaking skills -- beginning with an intra-school round for students from grades 6 to 9, followed by inter-school and district-level semi-finals, culminating in the national grand finale.

BRAC's Education Programme (BEP) initiated this festival to inspire students to think critically and articulate their ideas with confidence. Looking ahead, BRAC plans to expand this initiative to provide more students across the country with the opportunities to develop their analytical and debating skills, empowering them to showcase their intellectual potential and leadership abilities on a broader platform.
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