The two-day long Grand finale of BFF-SAMAKAL National Science Debate 2017 was held at Dhaka Government Laboratory High School auditorium on July 27-28, 2017.  This is the biggest school debate competition where schools from all 64 districts of Bangladesh have their participation. Bangladesh Freedom Foundation (BFF) and the popular bangle Daily newspaper SAMAKAL have been jointly organizing this competition every year since 2013. The major objective of this contest is to promote and popularize science through the participation of higher secondary students at a debate contest across the country.

A number of 520 high schools of 64 districts participated in this contest. After the district and divisional level contest, Champions of divisional level and Dhaka metropolitan city contested at the final round. This year there were 7 girls school among the 16 participating schools and the finalists were all girls.

Rajshahi Government Girls’ High School team won the championship defeating Sylhet Agrogami Government girls High School Team in the final. Meftaur Zannat Rifat, team leader of Rajshahi Government Girls’ High School was awarded as the best debater. Other semifinalist teams were Jirabo cantonment Public School and College and Karim Uddin Public Pilot High School, Lalmonirhat. The champion team was awarded with a champion trophy, Books and individual laptop.

Mr. Nurul Islam Nahid MP, Honourable Minister of Education attended the closing and prize giving ceremony as a chief guest. Eminent Journalist and The Editor of SAMAKAL Mr. Golam Sarwar, Eminent Biologist and Trustee of BFF Dr. Rezaur Rahman Chowdhury, Executive Director of BFF Mr. Sazzadur Rahman Chowdhury and Feature Editor of Samakal Mr. Mahbub Aziz gave speeches at the program. Head Master of Dhaka Government Laboratory School Mr. Abdul Khaleque chaired the session.

Mr. Nurul Islam Nahid MP emphasized both on promoting science education along with century old Bengali culture to stop communalism and extremism in the country. He thanked to BFF and Samakal for arranging this competition that already earned recognition as a biggest platform for high school debaters. He informed the audience about the initiatives taken by the government to improve education quality of the nation.

Mr. Golam Sarwar said it is sad that our political parties sometimes make ties with politicians who use communalism in politics for votes. Only the youth can prevent communalism and extremism and make a beautiful country for all community.

Honorable Trustee to BFF Dr Rezaur Rahman urged to the debaters to lead the nation for creating a developed and secular state. He stressed on studying science and technologies along with history and literature.

Education Minister awarded the prize to the winners. BFF Executive Director Sazzadur Rahman Chowdhury Thanked to the partners and sponsors for their contribution and cooperation to the program. He expressed his eagerness to organize this competition at a large and more organized way in future.

Teachers, guardians, Journalists and GO-NGO personals attended the two day program.