The campus of Dhaka University of Engineering & Technology (Duet) in Gazipur turned festive today (15 November) as the university hosted the day-long "Duet English Language Festival 2025." 

Organised by the Duet English Language Club (ELC) to mark its silver jubilee, the festival drew enthusiastic participation from students across departments.

The Business Standard served as the official media partner of the programme.

The celebrations began at 8am with a welcoming session in front of the Old Academic Building, followed by the formal opening ceremony at the Shaheed Shakil Parvez Auditorium. 

A colourful grand rally swept through the campus at 9am, setting an energetic tone for the day.

Duet Vice Chancellor Mohammad Zaynul Abedin inaugurated the festival as chief guest.

In his remarks, he said, English proficiency is essential for students to achieve academic excellence, build leadership capacity and develop a global outlook.

"In today's world, English is not only a medium for higher education, research and technological innovation, but also a key driver of professional competence," he said, adding that the English Language Club has been playing an important role in strengthening Duet students' communication skills.

The English Olympiad, the main competitive segment of the event, began at 9:30am at the Shahid Syed Nazrul Islam Academic Building. Simultaneously, a Poster Presentation took place in the auditorium outdoor area, showcasing students' creative ideas.

At 10:45am, students presented short films and visual works in the Cinematography Showcase, followed by a career-focused seminar titled "Career Guidance", where speakers discussed the importance of English in higher education and professional advancement.

Following a lunch break, the auditorium hosted a highly engaging session titled "Study Abroad: Road to the USA", which walked students through US higher-education pathways, scholarships and visa processes.

The festival concluded with an award ceremony and closing session from 2:45-3:45pm, where organisers handed prizes to competition winners.

ELC President Rony Islam Mithu said, "The festival aimed to enhance students' English proficiency, encourage creative expression and expose them to internationally standard activities."

"Our goal is to create a platform where Duet students can sharpen their skills and prepare for global opportunities," he added.

 

Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET)