North South University (NSU) has hosted the Korean Cultural Exchange Festival 2026 on 24 August 2026 (Monday) at the NSU Auditorium. During the event, North South University and Hanseo University, South Korea, also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen academic and cultural collaboration, a press release said.

The event was graced by Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam, State Minister of Cultural Affairs, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, as the Chief Guest; Benajir Ahmed, Former Chairman and Honourable Member of the Board of Trustees, North South University, as the Special Guest; Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Vice-Chancellor, North South University, as the Session Chair; Dongho Kim, Dean, Hanseo University; Abdullah Al Faruq, CEO, Endow Corporation; and Professor Nasar U. Ahmed, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, North South University, who welcomed the guests and participants.

Welcoming the guests and participants, Professor Nasar U. Ahmed, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of North South University, said, “It is a celebration of friendship between the people of Bangladesh and Korea. Through cultural exchange, we can strengthen our friendship, deepen our mutual understanding, and bring our young people closer together.”

Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam, State Minister of Cultural Affairs, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, attended the event as the Chief Guest. In his remarks, he said, “Korea and Bangladesh are working together, particularly for the young people, and this cultural exchange provides a very good opportunity for them to learn from each other. Such initiatives can play an important role in building our nation. Our government is determined to work towards greater prosperity, and strengthening cooperation and people-to-people connections through cultural exchange.”

Benajir Ahmed, Former Chairman and Member of the Board of Trustees of North South University, attended the festival as the Special Guest. He said, “Culture serves as a bridge between two countries, and music, in particular, does not need translation—it connects all of us. This kind of cultural exchange can further strengthen the friendship between Bangladesh and Korea and create greater opportunities for cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure development, and human resource collaboration.”

Dongho Kim, Dean of Hanseo University, said, “Your future is bigger than your circumstances. The world is changing, and student exchange can give young people the opportunity to see the world from a broader perspective. Your circumstances should never be a reason to limit your dreams or your future. I hope students from Bangladesh and Korea will continue to learn from each other and build a better future together.” 

Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Vice-Chancellor of North South University, chaired the session. In his remarks, he said, “Bangladesh has a rich heritage and culture, and we have many things to share. We can promote student exchange programs in which Korean students can come to our campus to study, while our students can go to Korea to learn about their culture and technology. This kind of exchange can bring our two countries and our young people closer.”

The participation of the Hanseo University Cultural Team and North South University Shangskritik Shangathan (NSUSS) provided the audience with engaging cultural performances to experience and appreciate the cultural traditions of both countries.