Professor Dr Moniruzzaman of Bengali Department, Chittagong University, inaugurated the competition as chief guest.

After the first round, Chittagong Government Girls High School and Cantonment Public School and College moved to the semi-final rounds. Nusrat Shobnam and Mohammed Ekram Shah Fafim were adjudged the best debaters.

Partho Sanjoy, vice chairman of the National Debate Federation, chaired the opening session while Dr Mohammed Kamal Hossain of Institute of Forestry and Environmental Science (IFES) and Mujib Rahman, lecturer of Chittagong City College, presided over the debate sessions.