There was no participant from the three hill districts.

The programmes included campfire, river cruise, distribution of gifts among participants, cultural evening, dinner and travel instead of debate.

This created a resentment among hill people including Bangalee settlers.

Local journalists also boycotted the programme yesterday.

Ajoy Tripura, a student of Rangamati college, said, "It is a pleasure trip in the name of debate festival. They (organisers) did not invite any body from the hills".

Some kids from different schools in Rangamati town had registered their names on payment of Tk 200 each but they were not allowed to take part in the programme.

"I came here to learn something but they did not give me any opportunity", Arijit Chakma of Lakers Public School in Rangamati town said while talking to this correspondent yesterday.

Anirban Chakma and Supreme Chakma of the same school also echoed him.

They were moving around at the outer ground of TCI auditorium, the debate venue, when this correspondent visited the spot at around 2:20 pm yesterday.

There was no participation from the two other hill districts-- Bandarban and Khagrachhari.

Sources claimed that the festival was organised by the National Debate Federation (NDF) with blessings from some ruling party men in Dhaka. They brought about 20 newsmen including some from the electronic media.

Some local journalists had gone to the venue on the inaugural day (April 2) to cover the event. But they boycotted the programme as the organisers told them, "We don't need local journalists".

When contacted, Syed Hefajot Ul Bari Sabuj, a member of Global Village, said, "It's actually a festival". Global Village, a NGO, is the local associate of NDF.

When this correspondent tried to contact NDF President and festival convenor AKM Shoeb and Gloval Village Chief Organiser Fazle Elahi, Sabuj said, They are busy".

Rabiul Islam, a participant from Rajshahi University criticised the organisers for arranging a 'pleasure trip' in the name of debate.