Associate Professor Zhang Xi, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at Rajshahi University, then spoke, outlining the Confucius Institute’s mission and development. He noted that the Confucius Institute is dedicated to providing learning opportunities for Chinese language and culture enthusiasts at Rajshahi University and surrounding areas, and expressed hope that more students passionate about Chinese would join.
After the meeting, the two Chinese teachers, Amy Zhong Qian and Khan Peng Wei, had in-depth exchanges with the students to further understand their Chinese learning progress, and then gave a Chinese introduction class to the students.

After a brief introduction of the book by Professor Maswood Akhter, the discussants took the stage one after the other, highlighting key aspects, details, and observations regarding the publication’s relevant ruminations on the examination and reception of South Asian literature by native and diasporic writers on the world stage, as well as the lingering effects of colonialism on this side of the continent. Afterwards, Professor Mohammad Raihan Sharif presented his lengthy analysis and review of the chapters in the collection, focusing on the strengths and shortcomings of each piece. He then concluded his piece with a summative observation on the book as a whole, what it represents, what it opines on the difficulties faced by South Asian literature both across the ocean and at home, and a hope for further academic and literary works dedicated to this particular problem of the Orient.

Accompanied by his occasional interpreter Liu Shen, Professor Dong Youchen traced the introduction and reception of Tagore’s works in China, particularly focusing on the earlier translated editions that were in turn translated into Chinese from English renditions. Professor Youchen elaborated further on his passionate fascination for Tagore and his literature, describing him as a “genuine, good man.” He proceeded to also talk about the things that had inspired him to learn Bengali and take up translative and biographical projects on Tagore, a consideration which he now intends to extend to Nazrul.

Professor Dong Youchen is a recipient of various awards from India and Bangladesh for his contributions in translating Bengali literary works in Chinese and towards promotion of academic study of Bengali in China. He was a Professor at the Centre for Asia Studies, Beijing Foreign Studies University, China; and the Vice Director of the Literature-History College of the Party School of Central Committee CP of China. At present he is holding the position of Professor Emeritus at the Party School of Central Committee CP of China. He has authored the Chinese biography of Rabindranath Tagore and has edited a six volume Chinese translation of Rabindranath Tagore’s poems. He is currently leading a 17 member team of translators engaged in translating the complete works of Tagore in Chinese in 24 volumes. (reference)

On April 5, Sunday, the Institute of English and Other Languages held the second event in its Special Lecture series, with Professor Mashrur Shahid Hossain from the Department of English at Jahangirnagar University assuming the role of speaker. The event was chaired by the Director of the Institute, Professor Maswood Akhter, and attended by the faculties and students of the Institute, the Department of English from Rajshahi University, Varendra University, and North Bengal International University. Professor Mashrur’s lecture, “Delinking English: Decoloniality vis-à-vis Power and Pedagogy,” began as a reflection on postcolonial and transcolonial discourses, later shifting to the consideration of emerging narratives of Decoloniality. The lecture focused on the centrality of English as a mode of communication and commerce, while proposing a decentering which would restore autonomy and authority to the “damnes” (the damned states) from the clutches of colonial phantoms. Professor Mashrur also stressed a need for a sort of relinking, and cooperation between the victims of colonial powers, in order to better guard against the colonization of thought and imagination, as well as to ensure progress. The whole lecture was also concerned with development and advancement of Critical Theory, which currently assumes the form of Public Humanities. After the lecture, a period of discussions continued, and the event was concluded after the faculties of the Institute and the Department of English, Rajshahi University presented their reflections on the topic, followed by the Director’s vote of thanks.

On February 23, 2026, the Institute of English and Other Languages welcomed its very first batch of students enrolling into the regular MA in ELT program with an orientation ceremony, with the program was chaired by the Director of the Institute, Professor Maswood Akhter, and attended by the faculty and newly enrolled students of the institute. Though the honourable Vice-Chancellor and chief guest of the ceremony, Professor Saleh Hasan Naqib, could not be present, eight other special guests from the academic and administrative sectors, including Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Mohammad Main Uddin (Administration), Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Md. Farid Uddin Khan (Academic), Registrar Dr. Iftikharul Alam Masud, Treasurer Professor (Retd.) Md. Matiar Rahman, Syndicate Member Professor M. Rezaul Karim, banglabet official Administrator Professor Md. Akhtar Hossain Mazumder, Student Advisor Dr. Md. Amirul Islam, and Chairman of the Department of English Professor Md. Mominul Islam graced the occasion. The special guests delivered their valuable addresses to the attending students, and handed them welcome bundles of files and flowers. The ceremony was concluded after Dr. Natasha Afrin, Associate Profesor at the Institute, delivered her vote of thanks.

Official report by the banglabet official Office

Professor Dr. Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar (Education Adviser), Yao Wen (Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh), Prof. Dr. Syed Mohammad Abul Faiz (University Grants Commission Chairman), Prof. Maswood Akhter (Director of IEOL, BB) and other distinguished guests attended the ceremony held at Uttara.