ULAB Press

26/10/2025

"The Problems of English Studies in Bangladesh" a Paper by Syed Manzoorul lslam sir , published in the Crossings: ULAB Journal of English Studies Vol. 1 No. 1 (2008) .

English Studies in Bangladesh today does not have the same prospect it enjoyed even twenty years ago. Although there has been expansion of English Studies-as new university departments teaching the subject have opened, and most university colleges have English literature as a major subject, there has been a continuous slide in quality. The situation has almost reached a crisis point, and many academics openly raise questions as to the viability of English Studies in its present form. The challenges that English Studies today faces are many, some ideological, some methodological and pedagogical, and some have to do with such things as poor logistics, lack of libraries and books and qualified teachers. In addition, the challenges coming from the bifurcation of English departments into Language/Linguistics and Literature streams, and increasing marketability of such courses as TESOL, ESP and the like pose a grave threat to English Studies in Bangladesh. The paper will discuss these problems in some detail, and will attempt a way out of the current crisrs.

Read the full paper
https://journals.ulab.edu.bd/index.php/crossings/article/view/418
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59817/cjes.v1i1.418

21/10/2025

"S*x, sugar and slavery: David Dabydeen's Slave Song and the colonial experience" a Paper by Syed Manzoorul lslam sir , published in the Crossings: ULAB Journal of English Studies Vol. 2 No. 1 (2009) .

Sugarcane plantation began in the Caribbean from the early 16th century, with the arrival of Portuguese colonizers led by Christopher Columbus who planted seed canes in Santo Domingo in 1493. With demand for sugar increasing in Europe throughout the century, sugar plantations and sugar mills were set up throughout the region. Work in the sugarcane fields was cruel and energy-sapping, and hardly any European opted for such backbreaking work. As a result, a huge number of indentured labourers had to be imported from Africa and East India. These labourers were treated as slaves and were routinely brutalized and controlled by deadly force. The history of their subjugation and control had the body at its core, since the colonizers found it easy to establish their mastery through control and defilement of the slave’s body. The torture and mutilation incapacitated the slaves from performing gender roles. But the ‘ungendered’ slaves also reverted to their biological and s*xual selves and employed the power of the body and s*x to mount resistance against the colonizers. The resultant violence added a further dimension to the history of colonial resistance. David Dabydeen, a Guyanese poet, picks up this volatile history of colonial sugarcane plantation in his Slave Songs, with particular emphasis on the “erotic-sadomasochistic nature of slavery and plantation life.” The fourteen poems written in Creole probe the interconnectedness of s*xuality, sugarcane and the body, and trace the history of both colonial subjugation and resistance.

Read the full paper
https://journals.ulab.edu.bd/index.php/crossings/article/view/396
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59817/cjes.v2i1.396

15/10/2025

Emeritus Prof Syed Manzoorul Islam sir, revered for his teaching, literary brilliance, and principled engagement with Bangladesh's cultural and civic. Manzoorul sir, widely regarded as one of the pioneers of postmodern Bengali literature.

Born on January 18, 1951, in Sylhet, Manzoorul sir completed his BA and MA in English from Dhaka University, followed by a PhD in English Literature from Queen's University, Canada.
He taught English literature for over four decades, retiring from Dhaka University in 2018. He later joined the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) and served as visiting faculty at BRAC University. In 2023, Dhaka University honoured him as Emeritus Professor.

His academic interests spanned Elizabethan drama, literary theory, and cultural studies. He had been a vocal advocate for university autonomy and inclusive education, especially during the pandemic, highlighting the digital divide and the need for increased investment in higher education.

As a writer, Manzoorul Islam sir is known for blending realism and surrealism. His collection "Prem O Prarthonar Golpo" won the Prothom Alo Book of the Year Award in 2005.

His notable works include "Thaka Na Thakar Golpo", "Kach Vanga Raater Golpo", "Andhakar O Alo Dekhar Golpo", "Adhkhana Manushyo", "Dinratriguli", "Ajgubi Rat", "Tin Porber Jibon", and "Nandantattwa". His English short story collection "The Merman's Prayer and Other Stories" was acclaimed for its magical realism and postmodern style.

He was also a noted columnist, writing regularly on political and social issues.

He died from complications of a heart attack on 10 October 2025, at the age of 74.

(Information collected from https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/obituary/news/emeritus-professor-syed-manzoorul-islam-no-more-4006556)

11/10/2025

We are deeply saddened by the demise of Dr. Syed Manzoorul Islam, Professor Emeritus, University of Dhaka and Research Advisor and Professor, Department of English and Humanities, ULAB.

ULAB Press extends its deepest condolences to his grieving family members, relatives, colleagues, friends and students.

May his soul rest in enternal peace.

09/10/2025

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21/09/2025

Practical Leadership is a concise yet insightful guide to developing essential leadership qualities for personal and professional growth. Drawing on the author’s extensive experience, it moves beyond theory to offer actionable wisdom rooted in real-world practice. The book introduces the concept of “Leadership-Ownership,” highlighting that true leadership goes beyond holding a title or position. It emphasizes the value of diligence through the “Leadership Work Principle,” and warns against the pitfalls of excessive emotion, ego, impatience, and pride. Key themes include “Leadership Caring,” “Leadership Not Leading” (focusing on collaboration and self-leadership), “Leadership Networking,” and the importance of timely decision-making. Offering a fresh, practical approach, this book equips readers with the mindset and tools to lead effectively in both business and life.

TITLE : Practical Leadership
GENRE : Non Fiction
WRITER : H M Jahirul Haque

For order, visit our website https://ulab-press.ulab.edu.bd/product/practical-leadership-by-h-m-jahirul-haque/
You will get your book at your doorstep.

You can also get your one from Bengal Boi বেঙ্গল বই

16/09/2025

Dhaka may be one of the most densely populated cities in the world—noisy, grid-locked, short on public amenities, and blighted with sprawling slums—but, as these stories show, it is also one of the most colourful and chaotically joyful places you could possibly call home. Slum kids and film stars, day-dreaming rich boys, gangsters and former freedom fighters all rub shoulders in these streets, often with Dhaka’s trademark rickshaws ferrying them to and fro across cultural, economic and ethnic divides.

Just like Dhaka itself, these stories thrive on the rich interplay between folk culture and high art; they both cherish and lampoon the city’s great tradition of political protest, and they pay tribute to a nation that was borne out of a love of language, one language in particular, Bangla (from which all these stories have been translated).

TITLE : The Book of Dhaka: A City in Short Fiction
GENRE : Short Stories, Translation
TRANSLATOR : Ahmed Ahsanuzzaman
Arifa Ghani Rahman
Arunava Sinha
Marzia Rahman
Masrufa Ayesha Nusrat
Mohammad Mahmudul Haque
Mohammad Shafiqul Islam
Pushpita Alam
Syeda Nur-E-Royhan

For order, visit our website https://ulab-press.ulab.edu.bd/product/the-book-of-dhaka-a-city-in-short-fiction/
You will get your book at your doorstep.

16/06/2025

28/05/2025

Introducing our new book ''Practical Leadership'' written by Dr. H. M. Jahirul Haque.

Dr. H. M. Jahirul Haque is a distinguished academic leader, educator and researcher with over three decades of experience in higher education, institutional leadership and technology-driven innovation. Currently serving as the Vice Chancellor of the Canadian University of Bangladesh. Prior to this, he led the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) as its Vice Chancellor.

About the book --
Practical Leadership is a concise yet insightful guide to developing essential leadership qualities for personal and professional growth. Drawing on the author’s extensive experience, it moves beyond theory to offer actionable wisdom rooted in real-world practice. The book introduces the concept of “Leadership-Ownership,” highlighting that true leadership goes beyond holding a title or position. It emphasizes the value of diligence through the “Leadership Work Principle,” and warns against the pitfalls of excessive emotion, ego, impatience, and pride. Key themes include “Leadership Caring,” “Leadership Not Leading” (focusing on collaboration and self-leadership), “Leadership Networking,” and the importance of timely decision-making. Offering a fresh, practical approach, this book equips readers with the mindset and tools to lead effectively in both business and life.

Want to read more???
Just click on the link https://ulab-press.ulab.edu.bd/.../practical-leadership.../ , Order your one online and enjoy home delivery across Bangladesh and worldwide!

27/05/2025

Introducing our new book ''Practical Leadership'' written by Dr. H. M. Jahirul Haque.

Dr. H. M. Jahirul Haque is a distinguished academic leader, educator and researcher with over three decades of experience in higher education, institutional leadership and technology-driven innovation. Currently serving as the Vice Chancellor of the Canadian University of Bangladesh. Prior to this, he led the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) as its Vice Chancellor.

About the book --
Practical Leadership is a concise yet insightful guide to developing essential leadership qualities for personal and professional growth. Drawing on the author’s extensive experience, it moves beyond theory to offer actionable wisdom rooted in real-world practice. The book introduces the concept of “Leadership-Ownership,” highlighting that true leadership goes beyond holding a title or position. It emphasizes the value of diligence through the “Leadership Work Principle,” and warns against the pitfalls of excessive emotion, ego, impatience, and pride. Key themes include “Leadership Caring,” “Leadership Not Leading” (focusing on collaboration and self-leadership), “Leadership Networking,” and the importance of timely decision-making. Offering a fresh, practical approach, this book equips readers with the mindset and tools to lead effectively in both business and life.


Want to read more???
Just click on the link https://ulab-press.ulab.edu.bd/product/practical-leadership-by-h-m-jahirul-haque/ , Order your one online and enjoy home delivery across Bangladesh and worldwide!