As I walked through the corridor, my eyes caught students wrapped in long, black robes, scarves of crimson, gold, green, and blue hanging around their necks. Backpacks were slung over their shoulders, and they rushed off to class — the usual bustle of campus life, but, indeed, with a magical twist this time.
I held my breath in anticipation and here it was — BRACU’s Harry Potter Fest.
The event kicked off on 7 December. The first day opened with a Sorting Hat ceremony, Quidditch match and a cultural programme.
On its second day, there was a treasure hunt that sent students racing around campus with clues thrown at them. Trivia games tested how well they really knew the books and films — did you remember exactly how many staircases Hogwarts has? (It’s 142, by the way.) There were also poster presentations. followed by an award ceremony that wrapped up the competitions.
Now let’s get to the details. The ground floor of BRACU was full of students in Harry Potter costumes, wands in hand, hats tilted just right. Groups huddled together, giggling, posing for photos, and enjoying the moment.
The campus was decorated with bright colours and banners that brought Hogwarts to life. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin flags hung proudly from two towers with spiral staircases which reminded me of the Astronomy Tower from the books.
Stalls lined the area, selling everything a Potterhead could wish for: wands, robes, diaries, socks, bobblehead toys, bags, cards, and more. There was even a pastry shop selling Hagrid’s iconic cake, complete with the adorably misspelt “HAPEE BIRTHDAE” message.
Guiding us through this event were our ever-helpful hosts, Pritha and Nirob, who made sure we didn’t miss a thing.
Up the grand escalator — BRACU’s own version of the moving staircases — we headed to Level Six, where the magic continued. More witches and wizards roamed the halls, and the grand cafeteria seemed to be the Great Hall. House banners hung from the railings, and café staff, dressed in wizard hats and cloaks, served up snacks to hungry students.
We stopped by a group of friends, all in costumes. When we asked for a photo, they struck their best wizard poses without a moment’s delay. “How are you feeling?” we asked. A Slytherin, her green scarf wrapped snugly around her, grinned wide. “I’m loving it! It’s amazing to see something like this happening in Bangladesh for the very first time!” A Gryffindor beside her added, “I’ve always wanted to visit Hogwarts. Today, I feel like I’m finally there.”
Even BRAC faculties happily joined in the fun. We spotted Professor Shakil Haider strolling lazily past the stalls. One of his students quickly draped a Slytherin scarf around his neck so he’d look cooler on the camera. “I’m a Gryffindor, just to be clear,” he laughed. He praised the students’ hard work and promised full support for more events like this.
Dr Samia Huq, Dean of the School of General Education, shared her thoughts as she settled into her seat in the auditorium for the poster presentation. “BRAC University is all about internationalism, and this fest beautifully reflects that. The students’ effort has been remarkable, and we’re excited to see what they come up with next.”
Though we missed the magic show, luck was on our side. We caught up with Azwan Mustafiz — self-proclaimed Hogwarts graduate and comedy magician — who dazzled us with a few quick card tricks. For a moment, we were genuinely baffled. Magic? Maybe or maybe not.
Nibir Neelim, one of the organisers, sounded satisfied and optimistic. “This event was a month in the making, and we’re overwhelmed by the response. The students loved it. We’re hopeful we’ll bring it back next year, bigger and better.”
As I stood there, I remembered I was here as a reporter to cover the story. For a second, I felt like Rita Skeeter from The Daily Prophet — except without the fabricated, half-true reports she used to write! I quickly shook off the thought and smiled.
The fest would wrap up with a Harry Potter movie marathon on the third day, 9 December, running from 10 AM to 4:30 PM. Whether someone is brave like a Gryffindor, kind like a Hufflepuff, wise like a Ravenclaw, or cunning like a Slytherin, this fest had something magical for everyone!