Dhaka: The 38th National Poetry Festival is set to take place on February 1 and 2 at the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital, as announced by the National Poetry Council (NPC) at a press conference held at the Zahur Hossain Auditorium of the National Press Club.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, NPC President Mohan Raihan shared that the council originated during the mass movement against military autocracy in the 1980s. The inaugural National Poetry Festival was organized on February 1-2, 1987, under the slogan “Poetry for Liberation from Chains.” Over the years, the festival has evolved into a cultural movement emphasizing humanism, secularism, and linguistic freedom.
Coinciding with the month of the Language Movement, the festival traditionally occurs in February, transforming into an international platform for poets and writers from various regions. Raihan expressed concern over the current national climate, emphasizing the need to resist anti-liberation forces attempting to spread unrest. He reaffirmed the commitment to preserve the country’s sovereignty, emphasizing the sacrifices made for liberation and independence.
This year’s festival will be hosted at the Central Shaheed Minar, marking a departure from the usual venue, Dhaka University. The event will be inaugurated by Mir Mostafizur Rahman, father of July uprising martyr Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdha, with Cultural Affairs Adviser Mustafa Sarwar Farooki attending as the chief guest. The two-day festival will include seminars, poetry recitations, elocution, music, and dance performances, with contributions from poets, writers, intellectuals, cultural activists, and political figures locally and internationally.