NSU hosts conference on English studies

The Department of English and Modern Languages of North South University (NSU) inaugurated its two-day international conference titled "Ruptures and Resilience: English Studies in the Now" on November 4 at the university's campus in the capital's Bashundhara Residential Area. 

NSU Pro-vice Chancellor Prof Ismail Hossain, Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences Prof Abdur Rob Khan, Chair of Department of English and Modern Languages Prof AQMA Rahman Bhuiyan, and keynote speaker Dr Dana Lynn Driscoll, professor of English and director of Jones White Writing Center at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, USA, along with other academics were present, said a press release.

In his welcome address, Prof Bhuiyan discussed the department's priorities in creating an academic environment for sharing knowledge, generating and exchanging ideas, and initiating collaborations to inculcate life-long learning opportunities. 

In her Keynote, Prof Dana Lynn Driscoll shared her expertise and research in the area of academic writing and the importance of it across disciplines. 

Dean of SHSS Prof Khan discussed the continued importance of humanities in the current context of the world. 

Pro-VC Prof Hossain stressed on the importance of hosting such conferences in Bangladesh as he declared the conference open. 

The first day of the programme included two special sessions, a plenary, a session participated by both academic scholars and students from various national and international universities, punctuated by a literary afternoon. 

The conference brought together over 100 scholars and thinkers from five continents: North America, Europe, Africa, Australia, and of course, Asia, working in the fields of language, literature, and TESOL.

Alongside Dr Shireen Huq as moderator, Dr Deena P Forkan, Dr Razia Sultana and Dr Niaz Zaman participated in a special session on "Bangladeshi Women Writing in English: Struggles and Fulfilment". 

Another special session on "Ruptures and Resilience: English Studies in Bangladesh" was moderated by Dr Nazia Manzoor. 

Other speakers in that session were Dr Shireen Huq, Dr Kaiser Huq, Dr Fakrul Alam, and Dr Sayed Manzoorul Islam. 

Dr Muhammad A Quayum discussed the transformational educational policies of Rabindranath Tagore and Begum Rokeya, undertaken during the time of colonial Bengal. 

Academic research posters were displayed outside the venue, and several publication houses such as UPL displayed their books.