The 123rd birth anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam will be marked across the country tomorrow (May 25) in a befitting manner.
An elaborate programme has been taken at the national level to mark the day.
Besides, different organizations and cultural bodies in the capital and in districts will also celebrate the day amid various functions.
The main programme of the birth anniversary will be organized on the Bir Chandra Public Library and Nagar Auditorium (town hall) premises in Cumilla at 11am tomorrow with the theme "Bidrohir Shotoborsha", where the poet had a lot of memoires and which is the home town of his wife Pramila Devi as well.
Information and Broadcasting Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud will address the inaugural function as the chief guest with State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid in the chair.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Simin Hossain (Rimi), lawmaker AKM Bahauddin Bahar and poet's granddaughter Khilkhil Kazi will address the function as special guests.
Secretary of the Cultural Affairs Ministry Md Abul Monsur will deliver welcome address while Nazrul researcher Professor Santi Ranjan Bhowmik will address the inaugural ceremony as the commemorative speaker.
Cumilla Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Kamrul Hasan will give vote of thanks in the function. Artistes of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy will perform in a 30-mitnute cultural event at the inaugural ceremony.
Besides, the birth anniversary of the national poet will be celebrated in the poet's memorable place Trishal in Mymensingh, Doulatpur in Cumilla, Tewta in Manikganj and Karpasdanga in Chuadanga and Chattogram.
Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and private television channels will live telecast the inaugural ceremony and air special programmes and print media will bring out special supplements highlighting the birth anniversary of the national poet.
Kazi Nazrul was born on the 11th Joishtha in Bengali calendar year 1306 in Churulia, near Asansol in the Burdwan district of West Bengal.
He was famous for his fiery poem Bidrohi (The Rebel) and his many melodious songs. He was a poet, lyricist, musician, revolutionary and philosopher.
The nation got inspirations from Nazrul's poems and songs during the great Liberation War and all democratic movements and struggles.
There are 2,400 of his songs, and together, they are known as Nazrul-Geeti or Nazrul Sangeet. He composed the songs, which he liked to tune himself.
Nazrul was the poet of rebellion against injustice and taboos. His nickname was Dhukhu Miah (Mr. Sorrow). True to his name, Nazrul suffered a lot in his life.
After independence, Nazrul was declared the national poet and he was brought to Dhaka from Kolkata. He died here in 1976 and was buried beside the central mosque at Dhaka University.
BDST: 1633 HRS, May 2022
MSK/SMS
