NSU DEML Winter Fest 2025 celebrates storytelling, art, and youth voices

North South University's Department of English and Modern Languages (DEML) concluded its first-ever Winter Fest spanning December 10-11, bringing together literature, performance, film, and visual art in a two-day celebration of creative expression on campus.

The festival opened with a balloon release at a colorful winter fair, followed by an inauguration ceremony at the main auditorium. Over the next two days, students, faculty members, and invited guests participated in a wide range of panels, workshops, showcases, and cultural performances, marking a new addition to the university's academic and cultural calendar. 

Courtesy: Tausif Abir Arpon, Md Jannatul Nayeem, Imrul Islam Reham

A winter fair ran throughout the first day at the NSU Field, featuring youth-led crafts, local products, handmade accessories, and campus initiatives. The fair created an interactive space for visitors to engage directly with student creators and organisers.

The academic programme began with a series of panel discussions. "Between Languages: Translation & Contemporary Bangladeshi Writing" featured Abdus Selim, Sadaf Saaz, and Naseef  Amin, moderated by Labib Mahmud, who discussed the role of translation in shaping contemporary Bangladeshi literary identity. This was followed by "The Writer Within: Production, Publication, Popularity," which examined the politics of writing and the realities of the publishing industry, with lively contributions from Mahrukh Mohiuddin, Dr Nazia Manzoor, and Nusrat Islam Maati, deftly guided by Nafisa Afsara Chowdhury. 

Courtesy: Tausif Abir Arpon, Md Jannatul Nayeem, Imrul Islam Reham

Workshops formed a key part of the festival's creative engagement. A creative writing workshop conducted by Shibabrata Barman drew strong student participation, while a caricature workshop by illustrator Morshed Mishu added a playful visual dimension. A live caricature session by Shay tai ran alongside these events. 

Courtesy: Tausif Abir Arpon, Md Jannatul Nayeem, Imrul Islam Reham

Later in the day, the panel "Writing Now: Storytelling in the Age of AI" explored questions of authorship, authenticity, and creativity in a rapidly evolving technological landscape, featuring panelists Shibabrata Barman, Shaveena Anam, and Syeda Maisha Ali. The evening programme featured poetry readings by Dahlia Ahmed in both Bangla and English, followed by an open-mic session, a stand-up comedy performance by Amin Hannan Chowdhury, and a private screening of the recently released film Delupi (2025), directed by Mohammad Touqir Islam and his team.  

Day two continued with discussions and artistic showcases. The morning opened with "Art and New Media: Women's Stories," which focused on gender, digital expression and emerging media. Farjana Afrin moderated the session towards a productive conversation between Saiq'a S. Chowdhury, Katerina Don, and Dhrubani Mahbub. This was followed by "Theatre & Beyond," where industry experts Baker Bakul, Mohsina Akhter, and Musharrat Hossain reflected on the development and challenges of Bangladeshi theatre.  

Courtesy: Tausif Abir Arpon, Md Jannatul Nayeem, Imrul Islam Reham

Courtesy: Tausif Abir Arpon, Md Jannatul Nayeem, Imrul Islam Reham

A youth-focused session, "Gen-Z Literary Expressions," brought together young writers to discuss changing creative sensibilities, with Musharrat Hossain deftly facilitating the conversation between Mir Habib Al Manjur, Faria Ilala, and Raian Abedin. Later in the day, "Films from the Margins" highlighted independent filmmaking and marginalised narratives, with a dynamic exchange between Amit Rudra, Mohammad Touqir Islam, and Nuruzzaman. 

Throughout the day, parts of the campus were animated by a Rickshaw Paint Showcase by Shay, face painting, and caricature activities. The festival concluded with a cosplay showcase where fictional characters came into life, a cultural programme featuring student performances, and a concert by Shironamhin and Blue Jeans. The festival included three competitions—in the categories of poetry and flash fiction writing, and cosplay with the winners being announced at the closing ceremony. Speaking to the crowd, Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Vice-Chancellor of NSU lauded DEML for showcasing the department's creativity and intellectual rigor throughout the fest. A similar sentiment was shared by M A Kashem, Member, Board of Trustees, NSU during the opening when he congratulated the department for shedding a light on the diversity of NSU itself. Benajir Ahmed, Member, Board of Trustees also expressed his joy at being a part of this festive and creative occasion. 

Courtesy: Tausif Abir Arpon, Md Jannatul Nayeem, Imrul Islam Reham

With its successful debut, DEML Winter Fest 2025 positioned itself as a platform that bridged academic dialogue with accessible art, while amplifying student voices alongside established cultural figures. Organisers expressed hope that the festival would become a regular feature of NSU's interdisciplinary cultural initiatives. Speaking to The Daily Star, the chair of the department, Dr Nazia Manzoor remarked, "This was an opportunity for our students to learn from various luminaries in the field of art and literature, as well showcase their own talents to a broader audience. I hope we can continue to dream big here at DEML."

Sara Kabir is a dreamer, a literature major, and a writer. She is often found juggling academics and her countless hobbies. Help her figure out what to write about next @scarletfangirl on Instagram.