After preliminaries and semi-finals, two finalist teams have emerged from nine participating English medium schools and they will battle for the championship today.

The motion for the debate is 'Political parties should focus mainly on economic development', with Cider International School (affirmative side) competing against Sunshine Grammar School (negative side).

Drishty, a debating and cultural organisation, has arranged the competition.

Mahfuz Anam, editor of The Daily Star, will attend the final as chief guest and poet Abul Momen, resident editor of the Prothom Alo, Farid Ahmed Chowdhury and Ali Ahmed, former presidents of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Safia Rahman, principal of Sunshine Grammar School and College, will be present as special guests.

Professor Dr Mohit Ul Alam, chairman of English department of Premier University, will preside over the session.

Before the final, another debate will be held to select the second runners-up.

The motion for the debate is 'Corruption is the main problem of third world countries', with Oxbridge International School competing against Bay View School.

The competition began on May 14. Other participating schools are William Cary Academy, Chittagong International School, Bangladesh Elementary School, Presidency International and James English Medium School.