NN Online:
East West University (EWU) held the 7th Nahreen Khan Memorial Lecture on Tuesday, 16 July 2025, at the university’s Manzur Elahi Auditorium. This year’s lecture, titled “Literary Translation and Translators: Bangladesh and Beyond,” was delivered by renowned academic and 2025 Ekushey Padak awardee Dr. Niaz Zaman, former professor of English at Dhaka University.
The annual lecture commemorates Nahreen Khan, a former EWU student and daughter of late Dr. Akbar Ali Khan, former adviser to the caretaker government. In her thought-provoking talk, Dr. Zaman explored the rising global prominence of literary translation, citing awards like the International Booker Prize and the Commonwealth Short Story Prize for recognizing translated fiction.
She highlighted the concept of self-translation, referencing Rabindranath Tagore’s translation of Gitanjali, which won him the Nobel Prize. The discussion also addressed the challenges of preserving cultural nuances in translation and adapting texts for global readers.
Dr. Zaman emphasized the growing field of literary translation in Bangladesh, noting a shift from functional translations to a surge in literary works being translated from Bangla to English—driven by the diaspora and globally aware younger readers. However, she pointed out that international distribution remains a major challenge, recommending greater use of e-books, international book fairs, and literary journals as solutions.
The event featured remarks from distinguished guests including Professor Dr. Mohammed Farashuddin, Chairperson, Board of Trustees of EWU; Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Shams Rahman; Professor Dr. Fakrul Alam; and Air Cdre (retd.) Ishfaq Ilahi Choudhury, Treasurer of EWU.
Faculty, students, officials, and members of Nahreen Khan’s family were in attendance to honor her memory and celebrate the importance of translation in global literary discourse.
