Earth Day Book Discussion: “Lines on a Drying Map: Communities, Conflict, Currents, and Cli-Fi”
On April 21, 2026, a book discussion session titled “Lines on a Drying Map: Communities, Conflict, Currents, and Cli-Fi” was held at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) in observance of Earth Day 2026. The event was organized by the Department of English and Humanities and brought together students and faculty members to reflect on the significance of water and environmental sustainability through literary perspectives. The session was moderated by Oliur Rahman Sun, Lecturer, DEH, who set the tone for the discussion by emphasizing the essential role of water in sustaining human life and shaping human thought, while also raising concerns about the consequences of its misuse and scarcity.
The first speaker, Dr. Farisa Khalid, Assistant Professor, DEH, explored the relationship between literature and the environment through her discussion of To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf. She highlighted how literary texts engage with ecological concerns and demonstrate the impact of natural surroundings on human consciousness. Referring to a passage involving a child’s interaction with the shoreline, Dr. Khalid illustrated how water influences imagination and perception. She further emphasized the importance of eco-critical reading, noting that literature often reflects the interconnectedness between human experiences and the natural world.
Following this, Raisa Anan, an undergraduate student of DEH, discussed Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler, focusing on its portrayal of a dystopian future shaped by environmental degradation. She explained that although the novel belongs to the science fiction genre, it presents a realistic depiction of climate crisis, particularly the scarcity of water and other essential resources. Through selected references, she demonstrated how water becomes a valuable and contested resource, leading to social instability, conflict, and migration. Ms. Anan also connected the themes of the novel to contemporary realities, highlighting how climate change is often underestimated despite its severe consequences. She stressed that marginalized communities are the most affected by such crises and called for greater awareness and responsibility in resource management.
The third speaker, Ruxmini Reckvana Q Chowdhury, an MA in English student at DEH, offered a contrasting perspective by discussing The Wall by John Lanchester. She examined how water, while essential for life, can also become a destructive force when mismanaged. Drawing on a passage that reflects both physical and emotional coldness, she explained how environmental crises can lead to a loss of empathy and humanity. She further discussed the concept of “the Others,” illustrating how displaced individuals are often dehumanized during times of crisis. Ms. Chowdhury enriched her discussion by sharing personal observations from flood-affected areas such as Mongla, where environmental devastation transformed familiar landscapes into dystopian environments. Her analysis highlighted how water related disasters not only destroy physical spaces but also disrupt human relationships and social structures.
The final speaker, Nusrat Tajkia, Lecturer, DEH, discussed the play Water by Mahashweta Devi, bringing in the discussion of ecofeminism and how water bodies are controlled by men, similar to how they try to control women. She emphasized how systems such as caste and gender inequality influence access to resources like water, often leading to unequal distribution and misuse. Through her discussion, she highlighted the role of marginalized communities, particularly women, in environmental struggles. Ms. Tajkia also referred to the book Staying Alive by Vandana Shiva to address the impact of large-scale infrastructural projects such as dams, noting that while they are often presented as solutions, they can result in displacement and long-term ecological harm. Drawing connections to the Kaptai Dam in Bangladesh, she illustrated how such developments have disrupted communities and livelihoods.
The event concluded with closing remarks from the moderator, who reflected on the broader implications of the discussion and encouraged the audience to critically evaluate current environmental practices. A question and answer session followed, allowing participants to engage with the speakers. The program ended with the distribution of appreciation gifts to the speakers handed over by Ms. Arifa Ghani Rahman, Head of the Department and Prof. Kaiser Haq, Dean, School of Arts and Humanities, marking a thoughtful conclusion to an insightful and engaging session.
Overall, the discussion effectively highlighted the multifaceted role of water as a source of life, a cause of conflict, and a force of destruction while emphasizing the urgent need for environmental awareness and sustainable practices.
The full video of the discussion is available at the DEH YouTube Channel.
Report by Tahsin Zaman Faiza (251013023)
