English Department celebrates Shakespeare at DU

“All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players”, this famous quote from Shakespeare's “As You Like It” set off event “William Shakespeare: A Celebration” by Department of English, University of Dhaka.

The programme, held in celebration of the bard's 400th death anniversary, began on April 24 with a film show featuring film adaptations of Shakespeare's plays.

The main event took place on April 26 at R.C. Majumdar Auditorium on the campus. Dr. Rubina Khan, chairperson of the department inaugurated the day-long celebration that featured reading and recitations from Shakespeare, a cultural programme, and the screening of “Romeo and Juliet”.

Dr. Rubina Khan delivered the welcome address, while Professor Dr. Fakrul Alam gave the introductory speech at the programme.

Later, students and faculty members of the department recited Shakespeare's sonnets in Bangla and English respectively. Students also recited “Shakespeare” by Rabindranath Tagore and “Horatio'r  Proti Hamlet” by late Professor Khondakar Ashraf Hossain.

The reading segment featured “Shakespeare Our Contemporary” by Professor Syed Manzoorul Islam, “Sonnet Exchange” by Professor Kaiser Haq, “Merry Making, Groundlings and Shakespeare's Theatre” by Professor Tahmina Ahmed and “Shakespeare and the New World” by Professor Shamsad Mortuza.

The session concluded with an address by chief guest Professor Emeritus Serajul Islam Chowdhury.

There were cultural events too, including “Emails to Shakespeare and/or his Characters”, and two skits by the students and faculty members of the department.

The day-long programme ended with a prize giving ceremony.c