The 4th International Congress of Bengal Studies (ICBS) was inaugurated on Saturday at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies at its Auditorium by Professor Masayuki Usuda, president of the ICBS. About 200 scholars of Bengal Studies from Bangladesh, India, Japan, China and United States participated in the inaugural session. The session was addressed amongst others by Professor Dong Youchen of China, Emeritus Professor Anisuzzaman from Bangladesh, Professor Pabitra Sarkar from India, Professor Hirotaka Tateishi, president of Tokyo University of Foreign Studies and Professor Abdul Mannan, chairman of the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh. Concurrent sessions on themes such as History of Ancient and Medieval Bengal, Society and Politics, Dynamics of Religion in Modern Bengal, Arts and Culture, Language and Linguistics and Development Studies relating to Bangladesh and West Bengal were held where scholarly papers were presented by researchers. Jointly sponsored by the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Embassy of Bangladesh in Japan, the Kajima Foundation, Bengali Association of Tokyo, Rissho Kosei-Kai kosei, Tokyo Club and Uttara University, the congress concluded with a cultural programme organised by the students of the Bengali Departments of the University. Besides speaking in the opening session Professor Mannan also presided over two other academic sessions. The 5th Congress is expected to be held at the Jahangir Nagar University, Bangladesh in 2017. 50 participants represented Bangladesh in the Congress.
