Poetry took center stage this week at Southeast University. The university’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, in collaboration with Writers Web Bangladesh, celebrated World Poetry Day 2026 with a vibrant program on Thursday, July 23, in the university’s Multipurpose Hall.
The Vice-Chancellor of Southeast University, Professor Dr. Yousuf Mahbubul Islam, presided over the event.
Minister’s Call to the Youth
Minister Ahmed Azam Khan, who attended as a guest of honor, urged the nation’s youth to work for national development in the spirit of the War of Liberation.
He affirmed that the freedom fighters are the nation’s finest sons and daughters and that their dignity must never be trampled upon. He also praised the overall academic environment at Southeast University.
Why World Poetry Day Matters
World Poetry Day was established by UNESCO to honor poets, revive the oral traditions of poetry recitation, and support the reading, writing, publishing, and teaching of poetry worldwide. Its central idea is simple yet powerful: poetry preserves the linguistic and cultural identity of communities and gives voice to experiences that ordinary language often fails to express.
For a country with Bangladesh’s literary heritage, this idea takes on special significance. From the Nazrul challenge to the landscapes of Jibanananda, poetry has never been merely decorative in this country; it has conveyed protest, memory, and national sentiment through some of its most pivotal moments.
Campus Literary Culture Beyond the Classroom
Events like this highlight an important aspect of Bangladesh’s private university sector. Beyond the well-known emphasis on business, engineering, and computer science programs, arts and social sciences faculties are increasingly organizing literary and cultural activities: poetry readings, book fairs, debate festivals, and language clubs.
Their value is not merely decorative. Students who read and write poetry tend to develop a greater command of language, sharper interpretive thinking, and a greater ability to navigate ambiguous situations—skills that will serve them well regardless of their chosen career path.
Southeast University, a private university founded in 2002 with a campus in Tejgaon, Dhaka, manages its arts and social sciences programs through the faculty that organized this event. Its program partner, Writers Web Bangladesh, works to connect writers and literary activities.
Rising Barta will continue to cover cultural and academic events on university campuses across the country. If your institution organizes an event worth sharing, we would love to hear about it.
