By Nusrat Jahan Esa
ULAB National Symposium on Ngũgĩ’s Legacy in Language, Liberation, and Literary Decolonization
On July 31, 2025, a symposium took place on the grounds of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), under the banner, “La Luta Literária: Ngũgĩ and the Battle for Language and Liberation.” Under the aegis of the Department of English and Humanities (DEH), the event involved a colloquy of prestigious scholars, authors, and public intellectuals who debated on the legacy of Kenyan writer Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o in the setting of language, identity, and emancipation in postcolonial situations.
Introductory remarks were offered by Professor Kaiser Haq and Professor Shamsad Mortuza, respectively the dean of the School of Arts and Humanities and a special adviser to the board of trustees, prior to the official opening of the program by ULAB Vice Chancellor Professor Imran Rahman. The keynote speaker was Professor Azfar Hussain of Grand Valley State University. He worked on labour, land, language, and the body in the shadow of the transformative influence of Ngugi.
Numerous panels and lectures were held at the symposium. A panel inspired by Dr. Abdullah Al Mahmud featured members who gave academic presentations on the ideological implications of writing in indigenous languages, while Mr. Nurul Kabir, Chief Editor of New Age, analyzed colonial legacies in political and educational philosophy. The last panel was chaired by Professor Khaliquzzaman Elias, with eminent academics such as Professor Firdous Azim and Dr. Sarker Hasan Al Zayed reading Ngugi’s work through feminist, cultural, and resistance-oriented lenses. Professor Mahmud Hasan Khan also explored Ngugi’s interface with philosophy, notably juxtaposing Ngugi with Heidegger.
Speakers at the symposium highlighted the importance of mother languages for innovation and cultural survival, echoing the idea of Ngũgĩ’s continued relevance for a system largely imposed on the Global South. According to Professor Mortuza, “Ngũgĩ reminds us that a free and conscious society can only be shaped by the liberal arts.”
Seminar: Engaging in Scholarly Writing for Research and Publication
The Department of English and Humanities (DEH) at ULAB organized a seminar on July 17, 2025, with the theme “Engaging in Scholarly Writing for Research and Publication.” The seminar was conducted by Mr. Mohammad Mosiur Rahman, Senior Lecturer at the DEH and PhD candidate at Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
The event began with the introduction of the speaker by Rudaiba Mahbub, a graduate teaching assistant. According to Mr. Rahman, students applying for international scholarships need to publish their research in reputed journals. He emphasized choosing narrow, relevant, and less explored topics, networking with other scholars and attending conferences.
An interactive session took place during the presentation, wherein students submitted possible research subjects for evaluation. Mr. Rahman offered constructive criticism, emphasizing focus and clarity. Besides stating the elements of good academic writing, such as the title, abstract, approach, and frameworks, he also gave insights about the usual reasons for rejection in international journals and how to get over them.
Film Screening: Inns of Molten Blue
On July 19, 2025, ULAB’s Department of English and Humanities (DEH) staged a special screening of Inns of Molten Blue. Professor Shamsad Mortuza supervised the project, while Quazi Farhina Hassan, a graduate, directed it as a part of her dissertation.
Along with students and faculty, Dean Professor Kaiser Haq, Professor Mortuza, and Assistant Professor Nadia Rahman were present at the show. Farhina spoke of her inspirations and thanked her mentor and partners following the presentation. Her video dealt with astral projection and lucid dreaming in symbolic reference to the July movement in Bangladesh and the Palestinian occupation. She thought that the creative and political aspects of the film — the use of shamanism in particular — were worth mentioning. Professors Haq and Rahman participated in the discussion, offering both praise and constructive criticism. The event came to a close with a group photo commemorating a project that merged political awareness and creativity.
Memorial for Mr. A.T.M. Sajedul Huq (1966–2025)
The memorial service for the late Mr. A.T.M. Sajedul Huq, the first Director of the CLS and Assistant Professor, was held on July 14, 2025, by the Centre for Language Studies and Department of English and Humanities. Mr. Huq was thought of as a unique and inspirational figure in English language instruction, having left a deep mark on students and colleagues.
Senior Lecturer Rajia Sultana was the host of the evening and presented a poem and her personal statement. Professor Shamsad Mortuza reminisced over their long association, while Vice Chancellor of ULAB Professor Imran Rahman remembered the leadership Mr. Huq demonstrated during the time of the CLS’s formation and international collaborations. Assistant Professor Shaheen Ara, Mr. Huq’s life companion, gave an emotionally charged speech wherein she recited a poem from Sufia Kamal and recalled memories of his kindness, humor, and instructional manner.
True to his personality and character, Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Jude Genilo, Dean Professor Kaiser Haq, Dr. Faheem Hasan Shahed, Dr. Shaila Sultana, and others paid their respects, reminiscing about his idiosyncrasies, adventurous spirit, and his love of music.
Career Workshop: From Literature to Corporate Communications – The Journey of Shifting Stories
A student career workshop took place on August 14, 2025, at the Department of English and Humanities, ULAB, with the theme “From Literature to Corporate Communications–The Journey of Shifting Stories.” The workshop was conducted by Ms. Tasfia Ahmed Mohima, communications architect at Renata PLC and alumna of DEH, Batch 1991.
Ms. Mohima shared her experience in traversing from literature to working in fintech and pharma. She exhorted the students to make use of opportunities off the conventional academic route and emphasized the transferable skills that the study of literature imparts: critical thinking, storytelling, adaptability, and creativity. She also gave helpful tips on how to use platforms like LinkedIn, maintain professional decorum, prepare for interviews, and create portfolios. She linked storytelling to branding and market research, describing literature as a “communication superpower” in her professional reflections.
Arifa Ghani Rahman, Associate Professor and Head of DEH, gave a token of appreciation to wrap up the program. Students were motivated by Ms. Mohima’s presentation to see their degrees as flexible tools for job advancement and lifetime learning.
DEH Meditation Workshop
The Department of English and Humanities at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) hosted a workshop titled “The De-Stress Express: A Meditation Workshop” on July 24, 2025. The session was conducted by Ms. Raina Haq, who is a student at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA. The purpose of the workshop was to enhance students’ mental and physical well-being with the practice of meditation.
The session began with a minute of silence in remembrance of the victims of the Milestone School and College tragedy. Following the period of silence, the workshop proceeded with a casual and warm interaction between the speaker and the audience.
Ms. Haq gave a brief overview of meditation’s background and significance, highlighting its advantages for stress reduction and inner equilibrium. She then conducted a guided practice session which included three types of meditation. For example, breathing exercises, focusing on impulses, and affirmation meditation. Her goal was to help the participants feel relaxed and calm, offering them a break from their routine-bound lives. To encourage individual freedom in practice, Ms. Haq discussed how meditation can be done not only while sitting silently but also during activities like eating, walking, drawing, dancing, or embroidery. She also explained how it nurtures a deeper connection between the mind, body, and inner self.
Ms. Arifa Ghani Rahman, an associate professor and Head of the Department of English and Humanities, and Professor Kaiser Haq, dean of the School of Arts and Humanities, asked insightful questions during the question and answer period that followed. A number of audience members also talked about their own experiences. Others recounted sentiments of nostalgia by thinking back to previous meditation sessions, while others considered how meditation helped them throughout the COVID-19 quarantine. Ms. Haq talked about her own experience with meditation and how it changed her life.
Orientation Summer 2025
To welcome the newly admitted students in the BA and MA programs, the Department of English and Humanities at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) hosted an orientation program for the Summer 2025 session on June 21, 2025. The event’s theme, “Monsoon Beginnings,” reflected the joyous atmosphere of this delicate season. Radia Al Rashid, a gold medallist and alumna who teaches English at Newham College in the United Kingdom, was the session’s guest speaker.
The event commenced with a lively speech by the Head of the Department, Ms. Arifa Ghani Rahman. Expressing her gratitude to the Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities, Professor Kaiser Hamidul Haq, she welcomed the newcomers, urging them to make the most of their journey by grabbing the diverse opportunities offered by ULAB. Afterwards, a short video was screened introducing the comfortable environment, adequate facilities, and vast growth opportunities that students can access. Following that, Ms. Rahman invited the esteemed faculty members of the department to introduce themselves, while also taking the opportunity to introduce other valued members of the department.
After that, Professor Kaiser Hamidul Haq greeted the newcomers. He urged them to travel the world, seize new chances and challenges, and keep a positive and upbeat attitude throughout their time at ULAB studying. He suggested that they actively approach the teaching assistants and faculty for support. Lastly, he encouraged the freshmen to seek higher education overseas by sharing various success stories of ULAB alumni.
As Professor Shamsad Mortuza was abroad, his welcome address was virtually screened. Starting with reminiscing about the monsoon in Bangladesh, Professor Mortuza spoke about the enrichment of faculty resources and departmental programs over time. Then he commemorated the 2024 July Uprising in hopes of igniting a similar spirit and passion in students, while also calling attention to the significance of Literature and Language in personal, social, and political spheres.
Ms. Radia Al Rashid’s speech followed, where she covered multiple aspects of her university experience, which fundamentally shaped her personal and intellectual development. She highlighted how the academic environment fostered her critical thinking abilities and enhanced her public speaking skills. Ms. Rashid also discussed the challenges English graduates face in securing employment, offering valuable insights into overcoming professional obstacles.
Afterwards, two newly admitted students, Tabeen Siddiki from the MA program and Arwin Shams Siddiquee from the BA program, expressed their enthusiasm about joining the university. Reflecting on their experiences so far, they concluded their speeches with hopeful expectations of a brilliant journey ahead.
Alternating the speeches, cultural segments, including music and dance performances, were conducted to refresh the attendees. At first, Kaisarul Islam, from batch 242, performed his original song “Bhabonar Mor.” Then Maria Hossain Israt (Batch 251) and Tahsin Zaman Faiza (Batch 251) performed a beautiful duet dance to the songs “Dheem Tana” and “Ayy Brishty Jhepe.” In addition, Mony Akter (Batch 242) danced to a beautiful Tagore song, “Pagla Hawar Badol Din E.”
Towards the end, Neha Ghose, the Advisor of the English Zone, spoke about the various facilities it offers, encouraging students to make the most of the services available. This was followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Md. Mahadi Hasan. He expressed his gratitude to all the essential members of the department who contributed to the success of the program. The program concluded with a group photograph session.
