DU Correspondent: Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, on Friday unveiled its 2027 New Year publications at a colourful ceremony at Bot Tola on the Dhaka University campus, highlighting Muslim heritage, historical awareness, social responsibility and Bangladesh’s geopolitical and national interests.The publication unveiling and festival began at 3:30pm, drawing students from Dhaka University and other educational institutions, as well as members of the public and families.Shibir Central President Nurul Islam attended the programme as the chief guest, while Secretary General Sibgatullah, Central Office Secretary Azizur Rahman Azad and Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice-President Abu Sadiq Kayem were present.The event was conducted by the organisation’s Central Publication Secretary Amirul Islam.The 2027 publication collection features a range of Bangla and English diaries, pocket and medium-sized diaries, notebooks, year planners and different types of calendars, combining artistic presentation with historical and educational content.A notable feature is the Bangla diary cover, inspired by the Mughal-era terracotta ornamentation of the historic Atia Mosque in Tangail. The diary also includes important events from world history for each day and introductions to contemporary books, aiming to encourage students to develop an interest in history and reading.The desk calendar presents illustrated accounts of 12 historic mosques associated with Islamic civilisation, including Hagia Sophia, the Great Mosque of Cordoba and Masjid al-Quba.One of the major attractions is a research-based publication titled 'Three-Page Calendar', which focuses on issues of national and strategic importance. Its subjects include Bangladesh’s geopolitics, border security, equitable sharing of river waters, the strategic importance of the Bay of Bengal and the blue economy, Muslim identity and heritage, and data sovereignty.The collection also includes a specially designed year planner with monthly and daily routine charts to help students manage their time, practical diaries with leather and gel bindings, and a single-page calendar featuring calligraphy of a verse from Surah Ibrahim.Addressing the gathering, Shibir President Nurul Islam said the publications were the outcome of extensive research and thoughtful planning, with themes reflecting Bangladesh’s development aspirations and the history and heritage of Muslim civilisation."We believe in aesthetics, creativity and building a research-oriented society," he said, stressing the need to develop young people morally and ideologically to address challenges such as moral decline, drug addiction, juvenile gangs and broader social deterioration.He said Shibir was working to promote personal discipline and Islamic values among young people through training programmes and the distribution of research-based publications, periodicals, science magazines and religious books.Despite various challenges, the organisation had continued the initiative this year, he added."Our publications are not merely gift items or sources of entertainment. Through them, we want to convey messages of history, heritage, knowledge, science and morality to students, families, guardians and the wider intellectual community," Nurul Islam said.He described the development of critical thinking, research and creativity among the younger generation as one of the organisation's key objectives.Shibir Secretary General Sibgatullah said attempts had repeatedly been made to obstruct the organisation's activities, but it had sought to win over ordinary students through creativity, quality and aesthetic presentation rather than intimidation.Referring to the previous 16 years of political rule, he alleged that Bangladesh had remained subservient to hegemonic forces during that period.He said the organisation had incorporated Bangladesh's geographical position, history, heritage, challenges and potential into its publications to promote national awareness and confidence.DUCSU Vice-President Sadiq Kayem, speaking as a special guest, recalled what he described as restrictions on religious expression at Dhaka University in the past.He alleged that while Marxist, Leninist and materialist philosophies could be discussed openly, students faced harassment and show-cause notices for organising Quranic gatherings or discussing Islam."Today, their successors are holding a public publication festival at this very Bot Tola," he said.Kayem also said Shibir sought to promote a form of student politics based on creativity and nation-building rather than extortion, tender manipulation and campus domination.Through positive and welfare-oriented politics, he said, the organisation aimed to develop a generation capable of contributing to an equitable Bangladesh.Central Office Secretary Azizur Rahman Azad alleged that Shibir's constructive activities had not received adequate opportunities for public presentation over the past 16 years. He said the organisation had been working since its establishment towards building a civilised society based on justice and fairness, adding that more than 300 of its members had been killed while pursuing that goal.Following the unveiling ceremony, the leaders visited different publication stalls, where visitors examined the products, purchased diaries and calendars and selected publications as gifts for family members and friends.Among those attending were Central Treasurer Anisur Rahman, College Affairs Secretary Hafiz Yusuf Islahi, Higher Education and Research Secretary Md Fakhrul Islam, Publicity Secretary SM Farhad, Social Welfare Secretary and RAKSU Vice-President Md Mostakur Rahman Zahid, HRD Secretary Helal Uddin Rubel, Law Secretary Shamim Uddin, Sports Secretary Mushfiqur Rahman and Student Rights Secretary and JAKSU Vice-President Riaz ul Islam.Members of the central secretariat, executive council and representatives of different Dhaka-based organisational units also attended.At the conclusion, Nurul Islam called upon members and activists at all levels of the organisation to help distribute the 2027 publications among students and the wider public. The festival offered Shibir an opportunity to present its educational and research-oriented initiatives alongside its broader ideological and political messages, with the publications placing particular emphasis on Islamic heritage, national identity and Bangladesh's strategic priorities.