The conference brought together academics, researchers, students and practitioners from Bangladesh and abroad to examine the intersections of media, culture and creative industries and their role in shaping contemporary ideas of the nation.

The inaugural session on 9 April was attended by M Tamim, Vice-Chancellor of IUB; Daniel W Lund, Pro Vice-Chancellor; and Bokhtiar Ahmed, Dean of the school, among others. The opening keynote was delivered by Craig Batty of the University of Adelaide, focusing on creative practice and research innovation.

The second day began with a keynote by Prof. Lund, who discussed the relationship between media, audience perception and cognitive dissonance.

Across the two days, four parallel sessions featured 36 research paper presentations covering themes such as the digital economy and platform labour, media globalisation, gender and representation, youth identity, folk culture, film and visual media, urban subcultures and political iconography.

The conference also featured three panel discussions. “Pixels, Platforms, and Creativity: Technology Reshaping the Creative Industries” explored the impact of technological change, while “Diversity Dynamics: Creative and Culture Industries in Flux” examined structural shifts within the sector. The final panel, “From Ecosystem to Screen: Sustaining Bangladeshi Cinema”, brought together academics and practitioners to discuss the challenges and future of the national film industry.

A workshop titled “Creative Practice Research: Practical Workshop of Imagination in Action” was held on the second day, focusing on research methodologies in media and cultural studies. The conference also included a screening of the film “Delupi” (2025).

On the evening of the first day, a conference dinner marked the launch of the Bangladesh Cultural and Creative Industries Research Group, described as the country’s first scholarly network dedicated to the study of culture and creative industries.

Participants included representatives from institutions such as the University of Dhaka, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh, United International University, American International University Bangladesh, Daffodil International University, Stamford University Bangladesh and BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology.

Organisers said the conference provided a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue and critical engagement, contributing to discussions on the development of Bangladesh’s creative industries and encouraging collaboration between academia and industry.