By Tuni Nigar
Orientation
On February 13, 2025, ULAB’s Department of English and Humanities welcomed its newest BA and MA students with an Orientation Program themed “New Beginnings.” The event brought together faculty, current students, and alumni to mark the start of a new academic journey for the incoming batches.
The program opened with warm words from Professor Jude Genilo, Pro Vice Chancellor of ULAB, followed by a virtual message from Professor Kaiser Haq, Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities, who encouraged students to embrace their academic and ethical responsibilities. Associate Professor Arifa Ghani Rahman, Head of the Department, emphasized the importance of using university life to grow both personally and intellectually. Faculty members then took turns introducing themselves to the new students.
The Orientation Speaker, Ms. Ummay Marzan Jui – an alumna of the MA program and Program Implementation Manager at Maiya School – shared her story of growth at DEH. Drawing from her experience working with Rohingya refugee girls and Bangladeshi women, she spoke about how her time at ULAB helped her gain confidence, sharpen her skills, and build lasting networks. Her speech was followed by a video recap of DEH’s highlights from 2024, curated by K. M. Kaisarul Islam of Batch 242.
Students were also introduced to the English Zone by Ms. Neha Ghose, Lecturer and Advisor to the platform, who invited them to use its resources throughout their time at ULAB. Two current students, S. M. Mehedi Hasan and Mahima Rahman Mithila, shared reflections on their experiences so far in the MA and BA programs respectively.
The cultural segment added a personal touch, with Shreya Goswami (Batch 241) performing Tagore’s ফাগুন হাওয়ায় হাওয়ায় and Kaisarul Islam presenting his original song Du Tola Restora. Graduates of the DEH Scholars’ Program, Riya Rani Saha and Akbar Fida Ononto, received their certificates, and Ononto spoke to the audience about the value of the program.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks from Ms. Irtifa Hasan and a group photo session. Batches 241, 242, and 243 organized the event with guidance from their Batch Managers, and the program was hosted by Fatima Tarannum and Rudaiba Mahbub.
Graduate Student Seminar
The Spring 2025 Graduate Student Seminar, hosted by the Department of English and Humanities at ULAB on February 19, brought together a vibrant mix of research and reflection. Thirteen MA students from the Literature and Cultural Studies, Applied Linguistics and TESOL, and Literature and Creative Writing tracks took the stage to present their work, each selected by their course instructors.
The seminar opened with a warm welcome from Assistant Professor Ms. Nadia Rahman, who set the tone for a day of scholarly exchange. From exploring beauty politics in Bangladeshi TV commercials to reimagining Cleopatra’s subjectivity, the presentations spanned a wide intellectual range. Students critically engaged with topics such as emotionality in TESOL, social capital in English theatre, culturally relevant materials in language teaching, and childhood language education across national contexts. Some used the lens of literary analysis and postcolonial critique, while others brought personal creativity and field-based reflections into focus.
Standout presentations included Salma Akter Rumi’s interrogation of beauty norms in media, Hamida Akter Mira’s creative writing journey rooted in Sylheti culture, and Rudaiba Mahbub’s analysis of digital protest art in times of political upheaval. Discussions also delved into inclusivity in classrooms, the complexities of colonial legacies, and the ethical stakes of syllabus design.
As the session drew to a close, Dean Professor Kaiser Haq facilitated a Q&A, offering thoughtful insights on the diverse range of topics. Head of the Department, Ms. Arifa Ghani Rahman, congratulated the presenters for their dedication and encouraged them to carry their research forward beyond the seminar. The day concluded with a certificate distribution and a group photo, marking the end of an enriching academic gathering.
Seminar: Researching the Unconventional
On April 9, 2025, the Department of English and Humanities (DEH), ULAB, hosted an insightful seminar titled “Researching the Unconventional”, featuring Dr. Towhidul Islam Khan, Teaching Fellow at the Centre for Cultural and Media Policy Studies, University of Warwick, UK. The event opened with a warm welcome and introductory remarks from Ms. Arifa Ghani Rahman, Head of DEH, who reflected on Dr. Khan’s academic and professional journey.
Dr. Khan began his talk by sharing his own academic trajectory – from studying English Literature at the University of Dhaka to developing a research interest in the intersection of arts and development. He focused particularly on his PhD research topic: happiness. Inspired by personal experiences and travels in Bhutan, Dr. Khan explored how happiness can be culturally defined and methodologically studied. He highlighted the need to move beyond conventional academic frameworks and urged students to explore literature, culture, and language through interdisciplinary lenses like economics, psychology, and anthropology.
“Research isn’t research if you stop being curious,” Dr. Khan asserted, stressing the value of curiosity, observation, and lived experience in shaping unconventional research. He also emphasized that even the most unconventional topics demand a disciplined and structured approach.
The seminar concluded with an engaging Q&A session, followed by a closing speech from Professor Shamsad Mortuza, PhD. Reflecting on his time in Arizona, he encouraged students to stay flexible in their academic pursuits and embrace a broad spectrum of disciplines. As a token of appreciation, Professor Mortuza presented a gift to Dr. Khan, and the event was brought to a thoughtful close with a vote of thanks by Ms. Rahman.
This seminar served as a powerful reminder that unconventional research, grounded in curiosity and cross-disciplinary insight, is not only possible – but necessary.
Seminar: Translators’ Choices: Comparing Translations of Shakespeare’s Hamlet
On April 30, 2025, the Department of English and Humanities at ULAB hosted a seminar titled “Translators’ Choices: Comparing Translations of Shakespeare’s Hamlet” to celebrate the birth anniversary of William Shakespeare. The session, led by Lecturer and BA Coordinator Ms. Nusrat Tajkia, offered a lively and thought-provoking exploration of Shakespeare in translation.
Opening with humor and warmth, Ms. Tajkia set the stage for a dynamic discussion on the interpretive power of translation. A YouTube skit featuring multiple renditions of the famous line “To be or not to be” highlighted how delivery changes meaning. Participants joined in by offering their own Bangla translations of the line, which sparked a playful yet revealing exchange of cultural interpretations.
Drawing from Alexander Burak’s framework on cultural appropriation in translation, Ms. Tajkia analyzed four Bangla versions of Hamlet, including poetic, theatrical, and classroom adaptations. She discussed the balancing act translators face – between fidelity to the source and the cultural resonance of the target language. From “ducat” to “hebenon,” each word revealed the translator’s hand and historical context.
She also touched on Shakespeare’s dual legacy as both literary genius and colonial symbol, now repurposed across pop culture – from films and anime to what she called his “abuse by Taylor Swift.”
The seminar concluded with a reflection on the future of translation. While machine translation continues to improve, Ms. Tajkia reminded attendees that it is the human translator who keeps meaning alive, nuanced, and ever evolving.
DEH Commencement
On May 10th, 2025, the Department of English and Humanities (DEH) at ULAB celebrated its Spring 2025 Thesis Defense and Commencement Ceremony, honoring the graduating BA and MA students of Batch 212. The theme, Where the Wildflowers Grow, beautifully symbolized the individuality, resilience, and personal growth of each graduate. The ceremony began with a warm welcome by Associate Professor and Head of the Department, Ms. Arifa Ghani Rahman, who congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to carry forward the curiosity, discipline, and creativity honed during their time at DEH.
Professor Shamsad Mortuza, Special Advisor to the Board of Trustees, likened the graduates to wildflowers, emphasizing their unique paths and potential. Guest speaker Mr. Mahdi Sayeed Rishad – ULAB alumnus and Associate Manager at City Bank – shared his interdisciplinary academic journey and career path, underscoring the value of communication skills and the broad professional scope of an English degree. His inspiring words urged students to venture beyond their comfort zones and apply their knowledge boldly. He was presented with a token of appreciation by Professor Mortuza and Ms. Rahman.
Following this, Adjunct Faculty and former BELTA president Mr. Harunur Rashid Khan commended the graduates’ intellectual and personal growth, encouraging them to embrace lifelong learning and express themselves with clarity. A spirited round of Word Association, hosted by emcee Azeema Anhar and cohost Aiman Swaad Ahmad from Batch 232, added humor and energy to the event. Graduating students then took the stage to share heartfelt reflections, recalling academic challenges, meaningful friendships, and how DEH became a space where they found their voice.
The ceremony also recognized outstanding students from the DEH Scholars’ Program – Marium Mardia (Batch 221), Nafisa Tasnim (Batch 212), Marifa Khan, and Fatema Aftab Miah (Batch 211) – who received certificates from Scholars’ Program Advisor Dr. Md. Mahadhi Hasan, alongside committee members Mr. Al Mahmud Rumman and Mr. Sheikh Nahiyan. The event concluded with a formal vote of thanks from BA Coordinator and Lecturer Ms. Nusrat Tajkia, who expressed her gratitude to all contributors. The day ended on a joyful note with a group photo session, capturing the culmination of this celebratory and meaningful occasion.