Mr. Mahdi Molaee Arani, the New Cultural Counsellor of the Cultural Centre of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dhaka, paid an official visit to the Department of Persian Language and Literature at the University of Dhaka.
where he met with all faculty members, professors, and administrative staff of the department. The department extended a warm welcome to the new Counsellor, celebrating his arrival in Bangladesh and his visit to the department.
During the visit, the Cultural Counsellor toured the Arts Faculty building, the department's academic facilities, and the archive section of Persian manuscripts in the Central Library of the University of Dhaka.
• The Cultural Counsellor had an effective discussion on preservation strategies for manuscripts, assuring the department that Iranian experts would assist this manuscript section, agreeing to exchange manuscripts available in both Iran and Bangladesh, and welcoming representatives to visit Iran to learn about their advanced manuscript preservation technologies.
The key highlights of the visit included:
• Mr. Molaee visited ongoing classes, observing the academic environment firsthand and engaging in interactive discussions with the students.
• The Counsellor conducted a thorough inspection of the department's core infrastructure, including the Language Laboratory Room, the Department's Library, the Iran Studies Room, and the Seminar and Lecture Room, while assuring his help for further developments.
• In a concluding address, the Cultural Counsellor spoke with the students and expressed his profound gratitude to both the faculty and the student body. He highly commended their dedicated efforts and special role in keeping the department vibrant and thriving for over a century.
During his visit, the Cultural Counsellor held a detailed discussion with the faculty members of the Department of Persian Language and Literature to address the ongoing challenges and difficulties facing the department. To enhance the academic quality and foster closer collaboration, several key educational initiatives were proposed.
The agreement, discussion, and proposals include:
• Launching interactive and knowledge-enhancing courses in Iran specifically tailored for the students of the Department of Persian Language & Literature, Dhaka University.
• Providing on-site training for teachers and Master's students, conducted by visiting Iranian professors within the Department of Persian Language & Literature.
• Following up on securing visiting professors for the department as soon as possible.
• Organizing and hosting conferences and seminars within the department on a regular basis.
• Expediting assistance for students to secure scholarships for higher studies in Iran at the earliest opportunity.
• Patronizing translation works between Persian and Bangla to ensure high-quality, reciprocal literary exchange.
• Patronizing and actively supporting students' innovative ideas regarding Persian language and literature.
