The Democracy Debate Championship 2026, themed “Youth Voices, Democratic Values and Constructive Dialogue,” was held today at the auditorium of the Institute of Modern Languages (IML), University of Dhaka. Organised by Civic Youth Bangladesh (CYB), the competition commenced at 9:00 AM and continued throughout the day.

The event was organised under the project “Democracy in Action 2026: Engaging Youth and Policymakers in Shaping Bangladesh’s Democratic Future.” It was funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh, with the Integrated Society for Rise of Hope (RISH) serving as the partner organisation.

The programme began with a welcome address by the President of Civic Youth Bangladesh. In his special remarks, Professor Mohammad Absar Kamal, Director of the Institute of Modern Languages, University of Dhaka, expressed his best wishes for the success of the championship.

The debate competition was conducted in three rounds. Eight university teams participated in the preliminary round, of which four advanced to the second round. Two teams eventually qualified for the final. Following an intense final debate, the Jahangirnagar University Debate Organization emerged as the champion, while the Jagannath University Debating Society secured the runner-up position.

During the closing session, distinguished guests addressed the participants and shared their perspectives on the role of young people in strengthening democracy.

Special Guest Barrister Shahzada Al-Amin Kabir, an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, emphasised that young people must raise their voices to uphold and protect democracy.

Honourable Guest Professor Dr Syeda Sultana Razia, Member of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) and Professor of the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), encouraged young people to demonstrate courage and come forward fearlessly to contribute to democratic development.

Chief Guest H.E. Joris van Bommel, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bangladesh, observed that young people can make significant contributions to democracy by actively engaging in dialogue.

At the conclusion of the programme, the chief guest and special guests presented awards to the winning and participating teams. The event ended with a group photograph and a networking lunch.