DEH Orientation Spring 2022
The orientation of the Spring 2022 academic session of the Department of English and Humanities (DEH) was held on February 20, 2022, marking the new beginning for the students of BA and MA academic programs. The orientation was graced with the inaugural speech by the Head of the Department, Arifa Ghani Rahman, Associate Professor. Besides, renowned faculty members, including Professor Kaiser Haq and Professor Syed Manzoorul Islam, shared their experience and advice for the new batch in their speech. The special guest of the event was Ms. Raihana Sultana, Cultural Affairs Specialist, Academic Exchange Programs, Public Affairs Section, U.S. Embassy Dhaka. The event ended with a cultural segment, which showcased the talents of the students of DEH. On February 20, 2022, the Department of English and Humanities at ULAB spread their arms to welcome the incoming BA and MA students of Spring 2022. The freshers were welcomed to their academic lives with inspiring words from prominent speakers such as Ms. Arifa Ghani Rahman, , Professor Kaiser Haq and Professor Syed Manzoorul Islam. Ms. Raihana Sultana, Cultural Affairs Specialist, Academic Exchange Programs, Public Affairs Section, U.S. Embassy Dhaka, graced the orientation program as the guest speaker. The program also included a cultural segment where students of DEH graced the stage to perform an array of dance, song and recitation items to entertain the freshers.
Workshop on Writing SOPs
On April 10, 2022, a session named “Writing SOPs” (Statements of Purpose), conducted by Dr. Sohana Manzoor, was organized by the Department of English and Humanities at ULAB. Dr. Sohana Manzoor is the Associate Professor of DEH, who enlightened the thesis/internship/non-internship students of Spring 2022 term with the standard procedures and techniques for writing SOPs.
Dr. Ramachandra Guha Speaks at ULAB
The Department of English and Humanities at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) organized a seminar on March 30, 2022, with renowned historian, social thinker, and biographer, Professor Ramachandra Guha. The seminar, “Towards a Non-Chauvinist History,” focused on the five distinct forms of chauvinism that a historian must confront and overcome in a world that is defining and redefining the role of leadership.
Professor Ramachandra Guha began by sharing his journey of becoming an “accidental” historian. He focused on identifying five kinds of chauvinism that historians must be wary of in chronicling historical events: the chauvinism of discipline, the chauvinism of method, the chauvinism of identity, the chauvinism of ideology, and the chauvinism of nation.
Workshop on “How to Pick a Minor”
On March 22, 2022, the DEH of ULAB organized a workshop titled “How to Pick a Minor” to help the students from different departments to select their suitable minor course. The departments include MSJ, BBA, CSD, GED, EEE and CSE.
The ULAB Literary Salon
The Department of English and Humanities (DEH) of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) launched an unique literary session, or a “literary adda” as is called, titled “The ULAB Literary Salon”,at the Research Building of the university in Dhanmondi. Held on May 14, 2022, the event featured the father-daughter duo, Professor Shamsad Mortuza, Pro-Vice Chancellor of ULAB and Dean of DEH, and his daughter, Arshi Mortuza, former student of DEH, ULAB. Currently a lecturer in English at Southeast University, Arshi Mortuza recited poetry and discussed her inspiration behind composing poems, along with her father. The session featured recitation of poems by Prof. Shamsad Mortuza and Arshi Mortuza, from their respective poetry collections, Barkode and One Minute Past, the latter marking Ms. Mortuza’s debut as a poet. The session saw respected faculty member and former dean of DEH, Prof. Kaiser Hamidul Haque, as its mentor, while being moderated by Sudeep Chakravarti, Associate Professor at ULAB. it was hosted by Ms. Sarah Anjum Bari, adjunct faculty member of DEH and editor of Daily Star Books. Attended by students and teachers of ULAB and guests from across the city, the session ended with a “question and answer” round.
Book Launch at ULAB: Our Many Longings: Contemporary Short Fiction from Bangladesh
The Department of English and Humanities (DEH) of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) organized the launching ceremony of the book, Our Many Longings: Contemporary Short Fiction from Bangladesh on March 13, 2022. Edited by Dr. Sohana Manzoor , Associate Professor of the Department of English and Humanities, and published by Dhauli Books, India, the book featured the translation of short stories, written by the contemporary authors of Bangladesh. Contributors included, Professor Fakrul Alam, Professor Kaiser Haq, Professor Shamsad Mortuza, Dr. Sohana Manzoor, and Ms. Arifa Ghani Rahman. Poet Mohammad Nurul Huda, Director General of Bangla Academy, Dr. Sohana Manzoor, Associate Professor at DEH, ULAB and the editor of the book, Prof. Shamsad Mortuza, and Ms. Arifa Ghani Rahman Head of the Department, graced the event with their respective speeches, along with a video-recorded speech by the publisher, Mr. Manu Dash of Dhauli Books, India.
DEH Commencement Spring 2022
On June 7, 2022, the Department of English and Humanities at ULAB organized a commencement program for the graduating students of BA and MA from Batch 183. The theme for the program was Shades of Memories. The speaker of the commencement program was Mr. Quazi Sabir, the founder and CEO of Khelbei Bangladesh and former Program manager at the U.S. Embassy Dhaka, who encouraged the students to do better in life with his motivational speech. The program also included a cultural program where the students of DEH from different batches performed and enhanced the commencement program.