The Department of English at ULAB arranged the 2nd Inter-University Students’ Conference and Cultural Competition on 21 April to mark the 400th death anniversary of William Shakespeare.

The conference theme was ‘Shakespeare: Then and Now.’ The event featured two segments: student paper presentation and a cultural competition. Ten public and private universities including Dhaka University, EWU, IUB, BRAC University, NSU, JU, Stamford University, Daffodil University, Southeast University and ULAB participated in the academic session, says a press release.

Professor Nurul Islam and Professor Shaheen Kabir, distinguished academics, judged the academic session. Nusrat Tajkia of Jahangirnagar University won the competition for her paper ‘Re-invention of Shakespeare: The Doctor, the Witches and Words.’ Sabah Tasnia Rowshon and Upoma Sanyal of East West University won the first runner-up prize while Tani Deepavali Newaz of ULAB won the second runner-up prize.

In the cultural competition, six universities including BRAC University, East West University, Independent University Bangladesh (IUB), North South University, Dhaka University, and University of Liberal Arts (ULAB) competed with each other for the honour. Renowned actress Sara Zaker and writer/academic Rubana Huq judged the cultural competition held in the evening. East West University and North South University jointly received the honor of the best cultural performance.

George Mesthos, cultural affairs officer at The American Centre, Dhaka, who attended the opening ceremony as the special guest spoke on the occasion and mentioned how research constitutes the foundation of human activities. ‘Re-search,’ he said, is the act through which we constantly redefine the boundaries of knowledge and expand the horizon of life.  

Barbara Wickham, country director of the British Council and the chief guest of the programme, attended the closing ceremony and handed over the prizes. She mentioned how amazed she was to see Bangladesh join the other 140 countries that are also simultaneously celebrating William Shakespeare’s legacy. She deeply appreciated ULAB for bringing together so many universities to the cultural programme. ULAB’s programme, it has been mentioned, will inspire other institutions to organise similar programmes for students.