A two-day programme to celebrate the birth centenary of eminent scholar, archaeologist and a former secretary of the cultural affairs ministry Abul Kalam Muhammed Zakaria will begin on Sunday at Charukala’s Bakul Tala of Dhaka University.
‘The book committee for a publication on Dhaka archaeological heritages’ will organise the memorial and discussion programme.
A set of programmmes, including photography and book exhibitions, traditional folk performances, will be held as a part of the festival.
Translators, artists, researchers, architects and members of his family will discuss on life and work of Abul Kalam Muhammed Zakaria, popularly known as Zakaria, while chairman of the book committee Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique will preside over the function.
On the opening day of the fest, folk singer Farida Parveen and flute player Gazi Abdul Hakim will perform to pay tribute to AKM Zakaria.
Famous pala singer Islamuddin Palakaar and his team from Kishoreganj will perform pala named ‘Gazi Kalu Champaboti’ and Toser Mondal and his team from Natore will perform ‘Jogir Gaan’ in the evening.
Mongol Mia Gayen and his team from Bikrampur will perform ‘Gazi’r Pot Gaan’ on the closing day while Chann Mia Gayeen and his team from Manikganj will perform ‘Gazir Gaan’ on the same day.
AKM Zakaria, also a former president of the editorial board of a committee to publish books on the architectural sites in Dhaka, passed away on February 24, 2016.
He won Ekushey Padak in 2015 for his outstanding contribution to the field of research while he received Bangla Academy Award and Asiatic Society Man of the Year gold medal.
Born in 1918 in Brahmanbaria district, Zakaria earned his bachelor degree in English literature from the University of Dhaka. In 1946, he started his career as a teacher at Azizul Haq College in Bogra. Later, he joined the civil service.
