Sunday, 15 April, 2012

The UOWD Bangladesh Expat Student Association (BESA) recently organised a Bangla Week to promote Bangladeshi culture through a series of events.“The main purpose of the cultural event was to raise funds for the school related costs of Bangladeshi schoolchildren under the Aami Porthe Chai- I want to study project, brainchild of the club’s founding faculty advisor and lecturer, Ms. Zeenath Khan,” said Nooren M. Khan, Vice-President of B.E.S.A. Club.The funds were raised through a Book Sale in which books related to the culture, traditions and history of Bangladesh were sold and a Bake Sale in which home-made confectioneries were available. Traditional Bangladeshi antiques were used to decorate the campus whilst entertainment was provided by tabla players. The UOWD Photography Club captured the event and set up a Photo booth to attract and entertain the audiences.Bangla Week included a workshop on how to speak in Bengali, conducted by Zeenath Khan, with over 15 enthusiastic students attending; a workshop on how to wear a sari and a student convention on the topic of ‘freedom’. Aida Mumtaz Siddika, a student at the Central School Dubai and UOWD students Shegufta Reina Alam and Oluyinka Daniel Oreoluwa, were declared winners. A short documentary shot by UOWD students Ashiqur Rehman and Irfan ul Houqe, was the curtain call of the event. This was a silent film in which students enacted their definitions of freedom.The event was attended by chief guests Professor Ghassan Aouad, President of UOWD; Dr. Reza Khan, specialist, Wildlife and Zoo Management, Dubai Municipality and guest of honor, H.E. Abdul Zafar, Consul General of Bangladesh.“I am impressed with the innovation power of members of this club and congratulate them on organizing such a fantastic event. This setup is the model of a mini Bangladesh and I am delighted to see the incredible variety in Bangladeshi culture,’ said Professor Ghassan Aouad.Dr Reza Khan appreciated the efforts of the B.E.S.A Club saying, “This is by far the most authentic Bangladeshi program I have been a part of.”HE the Consul General of Bangladesh said in his speech, ‘UOWD is truly an international University with over 100 nationalities. The presence of so many nationalities right here participating in Bangla Bazaar at an Australian University is a testament to that. I congratulate the club members and the University for capturing the essence of Bangladesh and presenting our hospitality to their students