On the theme- “The Production, Representation, and Reimagining of Spaces in Language and Literature,” the Department of English and Humanities (DEH) at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh held the first forum of its Spring 2023 Curriculum Integration (CI) program on March 9, 2023 at the ULAB Permanent Campus. The forum was initiated with the opening speech of Professor Shamsad Mortuza, Special Advisor to DEH at ULAB, and Professor Kaiser Hamidul Haq, Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities, in the presence of the esteemed chief speaker, Professor Syed Manzoorul Islam.
Prof. Islam commenced his speech by providing the students with a historical background to illustrate the significance of space in literature. He highlighted how space encompasses the physical dimensions alongside the domains of culture, politics, economy, industry, psychology, emotion, and geography. He shared some examples of writers, philosophers, and architects, dealing with the concept of space in their work offering the students a comprehensive understanding of space across different realms of life. He also offered a concise and compelling discussion regarding the relationship between literary geography and topography, the postmodern play of places in the era of globalization, national and supranational spaces, the dynamics of power within space, the emancipation of space, as well as the distinction between space and place. Following Prof. Islam’s insightful discussion, a question-and-answer session was held, allowing students to engage further and seek clarification on the presented concepts.
The forum was hosted by Ms. Mehek Chowdhury, Lecturer at DEH, ULAB. To conclude the event Professor Arifa Ghani Rahman, the Head of the Department, was invited to deliver the closing remarks. who extended her appreciation to the chief speaker, Prof. Mortuza, the Dean, the event organizers, volunteers, and the students for their active participation and valuable contributions.
The second forum of the Spring 2023 Curriculum Integration (CI) program, with the theme “The Production, Representation, and Reimagining of Spaces in Language and Literature,” took place at the ULAB Research Building on March 11, 2023. Prof. Arifa Ghani Rahman, the Head of the Department of English and Humanities at ULAB, inaugurated the event by inviting the guest speaker, Professor Shaila Sultana from the Institute of Modern Languages, University of Dhaka.
Following the Q&A session, the host, Adrita Chowdhury, an undergraduate student from batch 223, invited Ms. Mehek Chowdhury, Lecturer at DEH, ULAB, and one of the event coordinators, to the stage. Ms. Chowdhury concluded the event by delivering a vote of thanks to the guest speaker, Professor Shaila Sultana, the event organizers, volunteers, and the audience.
During her speech, Dr. Sultana explored the intricate connection among space, language and individual identity. She shared some anecdotes providing an overview of the presence and absence of certain spaces and how they influence to shape the minds of students and as well as the teachers. She emphasized the function of the educational, institutional, and social domains in either marginalizing or inclusion of learners based on these individuals’ linguistic identity. At the end of Dr. Sultana’s speech, the students and teachers satisfied their curiosity regarding the topic, during the question-and-answer session.