The Islamic University of Technology (IUT) came alive this week as its largest annual festival, Goru Party, was celebrated with grandeur and tradition. Organised by the graduating Batch ’20, the two-day event transformed the campus into a vibrant space of festivity and nostalgia.

What began in 2005 as a farewell initiative of Batch ’01 has since grown into one of IUT’s most cherished traditions. Every year, the graduating batch dedicates its final monthly allowance from the university to host the feast, treating juniors, faculty members, and staff to an event that symbolises gratitude, unity, and heritage. The highlight of the festival is the unlimited beef feast, which has become synonymous with Goru Party.

The festivities began with the arrival of cows on campus, a scene that evoked memories of Eid-ul-Adha as students carried out processions with spirited slogans in honour of their seniors. On the second day, the graduating batch appeared in cultural attire to mark the peak of celebrations. Male students wore customised t-shirts, lungis, and gamchas, each t-shirt bearing humorous nicknames chosen by peers as a reflection of four years of shared memories. Female students adorned sarees, representing the grace of Bengali tradition. As evening descended, the much-awaited dinner was served, where seniors offered beef, polao, and Mymensingh’s famed sweets to juniors, cementing bonds of affection and farewell.

The roots of this unique tradition trace back to Batch ’01, who, despite initial resistance from university authorities during a politically turbulent time, insisted on holding a farewell feast. Their now-legendary application – “Dear Sir, A cow will come” – submitted to security guards at the campus gate, marked the inception of Goru Party. What began as an act of resilience has grown into an annual cultural landmark of IUT.

Today, Goru Party extends far beyond the IUT campus. Alumni across the world, from the United States to Canada and Australia, recreate the celebration, carrying with them the nostalgia and unity that define this festival.

More than a feast, Goru Party represents the living traditions of IUT – two days where the campus becomes a radiant symbol of joy, gratitude, and heritage, etching memories that remain with students long after graduation.