CU International Relations department hosts first-ever ‘IR Week 2025’
The Department of International Relations at the University of Chittagong has organised its first weeklong event, "IR Week 2025," under the initiative of the Chittagong University International Relations Society (CUIRS).
The programme, which began on 24 August, 2025, featured seminars, workshops, debates, games, and creative exhibitions.
The opening day included two workshops — "Undergraduate Research" and "Higher Studies Abroad" — conducted by Professor Dr Mohammad Faridul Alam and Professor Dr Sujit Kumar Dutta. The sessions guided students on research design, methodology, and opportunities for studying abroad.
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On the second day, the department held its first Intra-Department Debate Competition, organised by the CUIRS Debate and Discourse Wing, with ten student teams participating.
The third day was dedicated to indoor games, where teachers, students, and staff took part in activities including Ludo, cards, and the Intra-Department Chess Championship 2.0. The fourth day featured a roundtable discussion on "Trade War and Prospect," where Assistant Professor Md Mohiuddin presented the keynote paper analysing the causes, implications, and prospects of global trade wars. Faculty members Professor Dr Faridul Alam, Associate Professor Md Niaz Morshed, Associate Professor Helal Uddin Ahmed, and Assistant Professor Fareha Jasmin joined as discussants.
Creative research took centre stage on the fifth day through a poster presentation exhibition and competition. Some 15 posters were presented by nearly 40 students, covering global conflicts, diplomacy, regional cooperation, and contemporary international issues. Judges included faculty members Afzalur Rahman, Muhammad Tareq Chowdhury, Nusrat Yeasmin Pushpo, Mohammad Riduan Parvez, Sabbir Mahmud Shibli, Aditi Chakrovorty and Shung Thui Prue.
The closing ceremony took place on 2 November, 2025 at the Faculty of Social Sciences auditorium, alongside the Annual General Meeting of CUIRS. Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Yeahia Akhter attended as chief guest, while Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr Md Kamal Uddin was present as special guest. The session was presided over by the Chairman of the Department of International Relations, Professor Md Niaz Morshed.
The Vice-Chancellor praised the department for its academic excellence and rising popularity among students, noting that such initiatives enrich the university's academic culture. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor commended the department for maintaining a session-delay-free environment and expressed hope that CUIRS would continue contributing positively to academia.
The programme concluded with the final round of the debate competition, a cultural show, and the announcement of the new seven-member governing board of CUIRS for 2025–26. Chairman Md Niaz Morshed officially closed IR Week 2025, expressing confidence that the new leadership would uphold the department's tradition of excellence.
Acadex Bangladesh supported the event as the knowledge partner.
