Feature: Students wow audience with stunning poetry recitation on UN Chinese Language Day event in Bangladesh

DHAKA, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Dhaka University student Sabrina Sultana Liza looked quite confident as she recited Jing Ye Si (Thoughts On A Still Night) in front of audiences Wednesday in Dhaka.

For a foreigner, it takes a lot of courage to recite a poem in a foreign language before audiences.

The show saw 16 acts of presentations, including vocal solo, duet and group performances, staged by students from top leading educational institutions in Bangladesh and China.

Excited Liza said she was happy that so many people told her that they liked her recitation.

"I practiced a lot to make my Chinese poetry recitation flawless," said Liza, a student of the Confucius Institute at the University of Dhaka.

She also tried her best to understand the theme of the poem by Li Bai, a famous Chinese poet of Tang Dynasty.

"I did it finally."

The idea of staging the poetry recitation event is aimed at celebrating the UN Chinese Language Day which is observed annually on April 20. On this day, the contribution of Chinese literature, poetry and language to the world culture is highlighted.

As part of its efforts, the Confucius Institute at the University of Dhaka organized the event under the sponsorship of the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh.

Academicians from leading Dhaka University, the Confucius Institute at the North South University, among others, also joined the event held virtually with students speaking and presenting fluently in Chinese language.

Another student from the Confucius Institute at the University of Dhaka Israt Jahan Ripa said she was always interested in this kind of program.

"After participating in this program I could understand further the beauty of Chinese poetry both ancient and modern," she said, adding "I've enjoyed participating in this event. It would be nice if the Confucius Institute arranges this kind of program every year. I would love to attend this kind of program again."

Nowadays, she said, more and more Bangladeshi students are learning Chinese language.

"They are not only learning Chinese language, but also knowing about the Chinese culture. It helps students to be closer to China. We can learn more about China and also can represent our country," she said.

Md Shariful Islam, who already passed the HSK Level 5 exam with a score of 227, also participated in the poetry recitation.

"I feel very good because this event gives me some new experience. I recited a Chinese poem -- Guan Ju," he said.

He hoped that such events will help promote Chinese language and culture in Bangladesh and contribute to the development of Bangladesh-China relations.

Momena Akter, a first-semester master student at the Chinese Language and Culture Department of Dhaka University, said she is very happy to be part of this event.

"I enjoyed some ancient and modern Chinese poems. The students recited poetry very well. Their level of Chinese is high," she said.

She believes that such events will inspire students to learn Chinese.

If students learn Chinese, it will be helpful to promote the Bangladesh-China relations as well, she said.

Yang Hui, director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Dhaka, said she is proud of the Bangladeshi students who keep studying Chinese language with dedication and participate in different programs to better understand the Chinese culture.

The event, Yang said, will help the Bangladeshi people better understand traditional and modern Chinese poetry and appreciate the charm of the Chinese language and culture.