Photo: BSS

DHAKA, Nov 14, 2025 (BSS) – A two-day “Art for Equality” workshop with the participation of 80 students and artists from nine public and private universities began today under the supervision of the Department of History of Art, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka (DU).

Organized under the “Shomotay Tarunno-Youth for Equality” project, the programme was jointly implemented by Plan International Bangladesh and JAAGO Foundation Trust with funding from the Embassy of the Netherlands.

DU Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr Saima Haque Bidisha inaugurated the workshop as the chief guest this morning at the Faculty of Fine Arts premises.

Associate Professor Debashish Pal of the Department of Oriental Art and Provost of Jagannath Hall, Honorary Professor Dr Md Abdus Sattar of the Department of Oriental Art, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Professor of Sculpture A A M Kaoser Hasan, and Plan International Bangladesh’s Director, Influencing, Campaign and Communications Nishat Sultana attended as special guests.

Dr Sheikh Monir Uddin, Chairman of the Department of History of Art and curator of the workshop, presided over the event.

Assistant Professor Sanjoy Kumar Dey, co-curator of the workshop, presented the objectives and activities at the outset.

Participants represented the University of Dhaka, Jagannath University, Jahangirnagar University, Khulna University, Rajshahi University, Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology, Dhaka Art College, Narayanganj Fine Art Institute and Jessore S M Sultan Art College.

An exhibition featuring artworks produced in the workshop will be inaugurated at Zainul Gallery of the Faculty of Fine Arts on November 25 and 26, alongside the release of a digital catalogue containing themes and artist profiles.

The top 10 artists will be honoured at the beginning of the exhibition and certificates will be awarded to all participants. On November 26, three thematic seminars will be held with participation from teachers and students of different departments.

The workshop aims to encourage teachers, students, young artists and eminent painters from public and private universities to portray negative gender norms in society through visual art and contribute to creating positive perceptions. It also seeks to motivate universities to include gender equality issues in higher education curricula.