Jahangirnagar University (JU) debating team JUDO Sangsaptak has finished runner-up at the 7th GOLD National Debate Festival, organised by Rajshahi University’s Group of Liberal Debaters (GOLD) Bangladesh, after an unbeaten run to the semi-finals.

The team, featuring Durbar Samit Adi of the Department of Archaeology, Hasib Bin Abdul of the Department of Geography and Environment, and Sadman Kaushik of the Department of Pharmacy, lost to Dhaka University’s (DU) debating team Aparajeyo Bangla in the final.

The final was held at Shaheed Smriti Sangharshala Muktamancha on the Rajshahi University campus. DU’s Miftahul Jannat was named the best debater of the festival and the best debater in the final.

The two-day festival was inaugurated at the university’s Syed Ismail Hossain Siraji Bhaban, with teams from 18 universities across the country taking part. Participants included teams from DU, JU, Chittagong University, Rajshahi University, Bangladesh Agricultural University and Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology.

DU and JU reached the final after progressing through the quarter-finals and semi-finals.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Md Abdul Alim, the chief guest at the event, presented prizes to the champion and runner-up teams.

Congratulating the participants, he expressed hope that students taking part in the competition would develop into capable individuals and play important roles in shaping society.