The 123rd birth anniversary of National Poet of Bangladesh Kazi Nazrul Islam was celebrated in Bangladesh, India and other parts of the world through various programmes on Wednesday (May 25).
This year, the theme of the poet’s birth anniversary celebration was ‘Rebel’s Centenary’, as the famous ‘Bidrohi’ of ‘The Rebel’ poem of Nazrul has already past 100 years of its composition and release.
An elaborate programme was taken at the national level on the occasion of the 123rd birth anniversary of the great poet of Bengali literature. The government, non-government bodies, socio-cultural organisations and educational institutions chalked out various programmes in Dhaka, Cumilla, Mymensingh and other parts of the country.
The main event took place in Cumilla, which carries the memory of Kazi Nazrul Islam. He spent some years at Daulatpur under Muradnagar upazila in the district and his wife Pramila Devi’s house is located in Cumilla city. Nazrul had visited Cumilla five times. The poet also fell in love with Sayeeda Khatun alias Nargis in Cumilla and married her.
The Cultural Affairs Ministry and Cumilla district administration jointly arranged the national event in the district and the inaugural ceremony was held at Birchandra Public Library and City Auditorium (Town Hall) in the morning on Wednesday.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud attended the opening ceremony as the chief guest and inaugurated the three-day event by releasing balloons.
State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid chaired the opening ceremony, while secretary of the ministry Md Abul Monsur delivered the address of welcome and Nazrul researcher Prof Santi Ranjan Bhowmik was the commemorative speaker. Poet’s granddaughter Khilkhil Kazi also joined the programme.
Artistes of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy performed in a 30-mitnute cultural event at the inaugural ceremony.
The birth anniversary progamme of the poet started with placing wreath at the grave of poet Kazi Nazrul Islam beside Dhaka University central mosque in the morning.
The Cultural Affairs Ministry paid its tribute to the poet by placing floral wreath. KM Khalid led the team of his ministry. Other eminent personalities such as Director General of Bangla Academy Poet Muhammad Nurul Huda, Director General of National Museum Khondakar Mostafizur Rahman and senior officials of the government also paid tributes to the poet.
Marking the day, Nazrul Charcha Kendra organised a cultural programme and discussion at the IDEB Building at Kakrail in the capital in the afternoon.
Chhayanaut organised a two-day ‘Nazrul Uthsab’ at Chhayanaut Sangskriti Bhaban at Dhanmondi in the capital.
Earlier on Tuesday evening, Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre of Indian High Commission organised an evening of Nazrul songs at the National Art Gallery of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka. Khilkhil Kazi was present on the occasion as the special guest. Noted Nazrul Geethi artist Khairul Islam Shakil performed Nazrul songs.
A three-day celebration programme on the birth anniversary of ‘National Poet’ began at Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University (JKKNIU) at Trishal in Mymensigh on Tuesday. The programme includes discussion, seminar, award- giving ceremony, photography exhibition and cultural event.=
Known and regarded as the ‘rebel poet’ for his iconoclastic and majestic literary creations, poet Nazrul was born on 11 Jaistha of the Bangla calendar year 1306 (May 24 in 1899) at Churulia village in Asansol under Burdwan district of West Bengal in India. The poet was allotted a house at Dhanmondi in Dhaka after he had been brought to Bangladesh. It is called ‘Kabi Bhaban’. Through his fiery poems, the poet had inspired the people to fight against the injustice and repression of colonial rule.
Marking the birth anniversary of the poet, several TV channels, radio stations and online platforms aired special programmes while newspapers published special supplements on the occasion.
Gems of Nazrul, a platform for Nazrul artistes established in 2016 to promote the life and works of the National Poet, released their 21st music video, “Oi Agoto Jago” that features performances by leading and upcoming Bangladeshi vocalists of Nazrul Sangeet.
