Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Wednesday issued a rule asking concerned bodies of the government to explain as to why they should not be directed to publish a gazette declaring poet Kazi Nazrul Islam as the ‘National Poet’. A HC bench comprising Justice
Farah Mahbub and Justice Ahmed Sohel came up with this rule after holding primary hearing on a writ petition filed in this regard.
Cultural Affairs Secretary, Bangla Academy Director General, Nazrul Institute Executive Director have been asked to comply with the rule within four weeks.
Earlier on 22 June, this year 10 Supreme Court lawyers, including lawyer Md Asad Uddin, filed the writ petition with the HC seeking directives over declaring Kazi Nazrul Islam as the ‘National Poet’.
Lawyer Asad Uddin appeared in the court hearing in support of their petition, while Assistant Attorney General Abul Kalam Khan stood for the state.
Later Mr Asad Uddin said, “All people, including the children, know that Kazi Nazrul Islam is our national poet. But the reality is that the announcement has no state recognition. It is just orally established. Therefore, the writ was filed to publish a gazette over the issue.”
Poet Kazi Nazrul was brought to the country on May 24 in 1972, after the independence of Bangladesh. He was then given a house at Dhanmondi in Dhaka. Dhaka University awarded him DLit degree in 1974 and an office order was issued in 1976 giving him the citizenship of Bangladesh.
He was awarded Ekushey Padak on February 21 in 1976. All these awards have written documents, but there is no document of his recognition as National Poet.
