Special Correspondent: His Excellency Mahdi Molaee Arani, the newly appointed Cultural Counsellor of the Cultural Centre of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Dhaka, paid his first official visit to the Department of Persian Language and Literature at the University of Dhaka on Thursday, 16 July 2026.The department accorded him a warm welcome, with all faculty members, professors, and administrative staff present to mark his arrival in Bangladesh and his visit to the century-old department.During the visit, Mr. Molaee toured the Arts Faculty building and inspected the department’s key academic facilities, including the Language Laboratory, Department Library, Iran Studies Room, and Seminar and Lecture Room. He also visited the archive section of Persian manuscripts at the Central Library of the University of Dhaka.In an effective discussion with faculty members, the Cultural Counsellor stressed the need for better preservation of rare Persian manuscripts. He assured that Iranian experts would provide technical assistance for the manuscript section. Both sides agreed to exchange manuscripts available in Iran and Bangladesh, and Mr. Molaee invited Bangladeshi representatives to visit Iran to learn about advanced manuscript preservation technologies.Addressing students in ongoing classes, the Counsellor engaged in interactive discussions and praised the academic environment of the department. In his concluding remarks, he expressed profound gratitude to the faculty and students for their dedicated efforts in keeping the department vibrant and thriving for over a century.The visit also focused on addressing ongoing challenges facing the department. A series of educational initiatives were proposed to enhance academic quality and foster closer Bangladesh-Iran collaboration:Student exchange: Launching interactive and knowledge-enhancing courses in Iran specifically for students of the Department of Persian Language & Literature, DU.  Faculty training: Providing on-site training for teachers and Master’s students by visiting Iranian professors.  Academic staffing: Fast-tracking the appointment of visiting professors for the department.  Research and dialogue: Organizing regular conferences and seminars within the department.  Scholarships: Expediting assistance for students to secure scholarships for higher studies in Iran.  Literary exchange: Patronizing translation works between Persian and Bangla to ensure reciprocal literary exchange.  Student innovation: Actively supporting students’ innovative ideas related to Persian language and literature.Faculty members welcomed the proposals and said the planned cooperation would help modernize teaching, strengthen research, and provide DU students with greater international exposure.Officials noted that the visit marks a new chapter in cultural and academic relations between Iran and Bangladesh, with a special focus on reviving interest in Persian language, literature, and heritage in Bangladesh.