Staff Reporter :The 117th birth anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam was observed across the country on Wednesday. Different eminent personalities, politicians, academicians, cultural activists, family members of the poet, poetry lovers and people of various professions paid rich tributes to the national poet on the occasion.The poet’s birth anniversary was also celebrated with due respect on the Dhaka University campus where he was laid to rest.The main programme of Nazrul Jayanti was held in Chittagong M.A. Aziz Stadium under the theme “Communalism and Religious Fanaticism: Relevance of Nazrul.” President Advocate Abdul Hamid was scheduled to attend the programs as the chief guest, but could not attend the function because of inclement weather.The President sent a message which was read out in the function by Secretary of the Cultural Affairs Ministry Begum Aktari Momtaz.Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor chaired the programme while Chittagong City Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin was present as special guest. Nazrul’s granddaughter Khilkhil Kazi also addressed the function.The day’s programme in Dhaka began with placing of wreath by the cultural affairs ministry at the poet’s grave on the DU campus in the morning.Different organizations, including the DU and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, took various programmes like seminar, discussion and cultural events, on the occasion.DU teachers, students, officials and employees led by its Vice-Chancellor Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique, gathered at Aparajeya Banglaat 9:30am. Later, they marched towards the grave of Nazrul in a procession where the DU VC, on behalf of the university placed wreath.A discussion meeting was held at the RC Majumdar Arts Auditorium on the campus at 11am. A memorial meeting took place on the mazar premises with the vice-chancellor in the chair.Presided over by DU Vice-Chancellor Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique, the meeting was addressed by Nazrul expert Prof. Dr. Rafiqul Islam, Arts Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. M. Akhtaruzzaman, Social Science Faculty Dean Prof. Farid Uddin Ahmed and Finance Environmental Sciences Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. ASM Maksudul Kamal.Bangla Department Chairperson Prof. Dr. Begum Aktar Kamal conducted the meeting.Terming Nazrul as the poet of humanity and liberty, Professor Arefin Siddque said the songs, poems and essays of Nazrul are still relevant in combating militancy and terrorism at home and abroad.Nazrul Academy arranged a four-day programme on the occasion that began on Tuesday at its Moghbazar office.The local administrations celebrated Nazrul’s birth anniversary at Trishal in Mymensingh and Daulatpur in Comilla, the places having memories of the poet.The birth anniversary of the national poet was also celebrated in educational institutions and district headquarters.Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and private television channels aired special programmes and the newspapers published special supplements highlighting the life and works of the national poet.An evening of recitation and songs by Khilkhil Kazi and Salauddin Ahmed will be held at 6:30pm on Friday at the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC) in Dhaka.Born on May 25, 1899 at village Churulia in Burdwan district of West Bengal in India, Nazrul through his fiery poems had inspired people of the sub-continent to fight against injustice and repression of the colonial rule.
