Organized by Bangladesh Debate Federation (BDF)
Policy Partner: Institute of Informatics and Development (IID)
On May 24, 2025, the Bangladesh Debate Federation (BDF) concluded the school-college chapter of BDF Dialogic 2025 with a grand award ceremony in Dhaka, celebrating a vibrant two-day journey of rational discourse, evidence-based argumentation, and youth-driven dialogue. With participation from over 40 top institutions selected from more than 60 enthusiastic applicants nationwide, this edition of Dialogic showcased the power of youth voices in shaping a more informed, inclusive, and democratic society.
The program was anchored in BDF’s commitment to decentralizing debate and elevating emerging voices through inclusive platforms. This year, the Dialogic took a transformative leap forward by forging a strategic policy partnership with the Institute of Informatics and Development (IID) — a leading think tank working on evidence-based policy advocacy and civic participation. IID’s involvement elevated the discourse from competitive debating to socially meaningful dialogue, with students tackling real-life policy challenges such as democratic rights, education equity, social inclusion, and climate justice.
In her inaugural address, Sunjida Rahman, Joint Director of IID, highlighted the organization’s vision for an Informed, Inclusive Democratic Society. She critically pointed out the systemic exclusion within Bangladesh’s education system, emphasizing that while “education for all” remains a national aspiration, it is still far from reality for many children — including those with disabilities, Indigenous (Adivasi) children, girls facing threats to safety, and the children of tea garden workers. She added that democratic rights also remain out of reach for many marginalized communities. Her call for accountability, structural reform, and policy transformation set the tone for the debates that followed.
The Dialogic debates served as a unique space where students went beyond rhetoric and engaged in evidence-based policy debates, analyzing issues ranging from inclusive education and GESI (gender equality and social inclusion) to environmental resilience and child rights. Teams substantiated their arguments with data, policy critiques, and real-world examples, embodying a model of youth-led civic engagement. These debates were not only intellectually rigorous but were also deeply aligned with Bangladesh’s current reform initiatives, particularly those focused on education reform, equity, and decentralized governance.
One of the most impactful aspects of BDF Dialogic 2025 was its commitment to Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI). With a special novice category designed to include first-time debaters and underrepresented institutions, this year’s edition provided a national platform for new voices — such as the champions Faridpur Zilla School, who made history in the novice round. The event also witnessed the rise of voices like Mushfiqur Rahman Sifat from Savar Cantonment Public School and College, who was recognized as the best speaker, reflecting the growing strength of youth in remote and rural regions.
Through strategic collaboration with The Earth, a youth-led platform working on climate justice, and policy facilitation by IID, Dialogic 2025 succeeded in linking debate with action — giving participants the tools to understand complex policy issues and the confidence to voice solutions. IID’s support enabled debaters to explore pressing national themes such as equity in education, climate policy, social justice, and the safeguarding of democratic freedoms, reinforcing the notion that debate is not just a competition but a catalyst for civic engagement.
In their closing remarks, speakers including Plabon Gangopadhyay (President, BDF), Prof. Dr. Moniruzzaman (Vice-Chancellor, Stamford University Bangladesh), and Jihad Al Mehedi (General Secretary, BDF) reiterated the importance of developing not just skilled debaters, but ethical citizens capable of critical thought and respectful dialogue. Prof. Moniruzzaman emphasized the need for more investment in co-curricular activities like debate to foster democratic values and critical thinking in young minds.
BDF Dialogic 2025, with its inclusive structure and evidence-driven approach, has reaffirmed that youth participation is central to national progress. By connecting passionate debaters with policy thinkers like IID and issue-based organizations like The Earth, the event bridged the gap between youth voice and policy action. It offered a clear vision for a Bangladesh where education is a right for all, democracy is participatory, and every child — regardless of background — is empowered to lead.
As the debates end but the dialogues continue, BDF Dialogic 2025 leaves behind more than trophies and titles — it plants the seeds of a youth-led, policy-informed movement for an inclusive Bangladesh.