The second International Conference on Epistemic Reconfigurations in Language Studies (ERLS) began on Friday, 6 November 2026, at BRAC University’s main campus in Merul Badda, Dhaka, bringing together more than 250 scholars, practitioners and students to examine language, knowledge production and the impact of historical and colonial legacies.
Organized by the BRAC Institute of Languages (BIL), the two-day conference features 145 presentations, three keynote sessions, two invited speakers, two ‘Rising Stars’ and three colloquium sessions, with participants from Bangladesh and abroad.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed, chairman of the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh and chief guest, highlighted the importance of multilingual communication in an increasingly interconnected world.
He said learning another language could create opportunities for education, employment, cultural exchange, research collaboration and stronger international relations.
Lulzim Pllana, who attended as the guest of honor, said communication across languages and cultures, along with the exchange of ideas and perspectives, would be essential to building a more connected and collaborative future.
Professor Dr Arshad Mahmud Chowdhury, pro-vice-chancellor of BRAC University and chair of the inaugural ceremony, emphasized the importance of recognizing intellectual traditions and knowledge from the Global South.
He said knowledge and academic practices from the Global North had long been treated as primary sources of authority, while the languages, histories and experiences of the Global South had often received less recognition. He added that decolonial thinking encouraged people to question established assumptions and create space for diverse perspectives.
In her welcome speech, Lady Syeda Sarwat Abed, advisor and founder of BIL, said language education should be inclusive, relevant and transformative while remaining connected to learners' cultural and social contexts.
Professor Shaila Sultana, director of BIL and convenor of ERLS, said the institute was expanding language education beyond traditional classrooms through practical programs, including communication workshops for healthcare workers and nurses, as well as language labs to support safer migration.
The conference features three keynote speakers: Dr David Block of Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain; Dr Ana Deumert of the University of Cape Town, South Africa; and Professor Peter I De Costa of Michigan State University, USA.
The invited speakers are Professor Yongyan Zheng of Fudan University and Dr Anwar Ahmed of the University of British Columbia, Canada. The ‘Rising Stars’ segment features Dr Nasrin Pervin of North South University and Mohammad Mosiur Rahman of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh.