Dhaka:Initiatives will soon be underway to expand the Bangladesh Betar debate competition to a regional level across various districts, according to State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Choudhury.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the state minister emphasized the importance of debates in developing students' knowledge, reasoning, and presentation skills while ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the information presented. He made these comments during the 'Betar Debate Competition-2026' ceremony organized by Bangladesh Betar.
Minister Yasser highlighted the necessity for students to engage in co-curricular activities alongside their studies to prepare for future professional roles in fields such as engineering, medicine, and journalism. He stressed that academic success should be complemented by participation in activities like sports, debates, and cultural pursuits to enhance personality, leadership, and creativity.
The minister also noted Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's focus on sports, reflected in initiatives to build playgrounds in every union and mini stadiums in every upazila. The first phase of this initiative has already seen completion in many upazilas, with further phases planned to cover the entire country.
Yasser mentioned government efforts to nurture student talent, including national quiz competitions across all education levels, which may soon be broadcast on Bangladesh Television. The Ministries of Information and Broadcasting and Education are collaborating to expand these initiatives, aiming to enhance student knowledge and contribute significantly to the country.
Finally, the minister congratulated St Joseph School for winning the 'Betar Debate Competition-2026' and Shamsul Haque Khan School for securing the runner-up position. He praised the courage and confidence of all participating students, teachers, and guardians. The event, featuring Md Shah Alam as moderator and A S M Zahid as chair, concluded with the distribution of trophies, certificates, and crests to the winning teams.