COMILLA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said that the poems and songs of the national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam encouraged the nation during the war of independence in 1971.

She made the observations in a program commemorating the 116th birthday of the poet at Town Hall of the district in the afternoon.

Cultural affairs minister Asaduzzaman Noor presided over the program, attended by planning minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, railway minister Mazibul Hoque, local lawmaker AKM Bahauddin Bahar and Nazrul Institute Trustee Board chairman Professor Emeritus Rafiqul Islam.

Earlier, the premier inaugurated 10 developmental projects and laid foundation stone to nine projects.

BDST: 1918 HRS, MAY 25, 2015
SR/RR/SMS