The Department of English and Humanities (DEH) at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) held its Thesis Defense and Commencement Ceremony for the Summer 2026 graduating batch on Sunday (30 August), celebrating the academic achievements of 53 BA and 26 MA graduates.

Held under the theme “Dream, Dare, Deliver”, the ceremony marked the graduates’ transition from university life to the next chapter of their academic and professional journeys.

The programme began with an address by Arifa Ghani Rahman, head of DEH, who congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to use the knowledge, skills and values gained at ULAB to contribute to their families and communities.

She also expressed gratitude to Professor Kaiser Haq, Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities, and commencement speaker Rahnama Haque. A special farewell was also extended to Neha Ghose, a DEH lecturer who will leave in the fall to pursue a PhD abroad.

Professor Kaiser Haq delivered a lighthearted speech, urging graduates to cherish their memories of ULAB and remain connected to the university. He encouraged BA graduates to return for their MA studies and expressed hope that ULAB would eventually introduce PhD programmes.

Commencement speaker Rahnama Haque, a ULAB alumna and Lead of Strategic Communication at Info Power Limited, reflected on her professional journey and her experiences at ULAB. She also works as a feature writer for The Daily Observer.

Haque challenged the common perception that English graduates are limited to teaching careers, drawing on her own experience to highlight the versatility of an English degree.

She said her studies at ULAB helped her overcome shyness, understand diverse perspectives, analyse ideas critically and communicate effectively. She also recalled participating in a course activity in which she portrayed Pip from Charles Dickens’ “Great Expectations”, an experience she said contributed to her personal and professional growth.

During her final term at ULAB, Haque opted for an internship instead of a thesis. With support from a DEH faculty member, she secured an internship at The Daily Observer, which later led to opportunities as a feature and content writer for clients and organisations in different countries.

She eventually moved into strategic communication and now leads a team of 12 at Info Power Limited. She also works with BAT’s External Communications Team and Vivo.

“Every organisation needs people who can communicate,” Haque told the graduates, highlighting the broad career opportunities available to English graduates.

The ceremony also featured musical performances by students and faculty members, a recitation of Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s “Ulysses” and a dance performance.

Nadia Rahman, Assistant Professor at DEH, facilitated a special session where graduating students and faculty members shared memories of ULAB and reflected on their aspirations. A graduating MA student also performed a song.

As part of the programme, Dr Mushira Habib, Assistant Professor at DEH, presented Scholars Program Certificates to four graduate students in recognition of their academic achievements.

The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks from Neha Ghose, followed by a group photo session commemorating the occasion.