Dhaka: Bangla Academy today observed the 49th death anniversary of the National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam through an elaborate program. Led by Bangla Academy Director General Professor Mohammad Azam, officials and employees of the academy paid glowing tributes to the poet by placing wreaths at his Mazar on the Dhaka University campus in the morning, said a press release.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, a seminar and cultural event took place at the academy's Poet Shamsur Rahman Seminar Room in the afternoon. Nazrul researcher Prof Dr. Anwarul Haque presented an article titled 'Nazrul's Fundamental Conscience.' The discussion was enriched by contributions from Nazrul researcher Dr. Syeda Motahera Banu and poet and essayist Kazi Nasir Mamun, with Bangla Academy Director General Professor Mohammad Azam presiding over the session.
Bangla Academy Secretary Dr. Md. Selim Reza and Associate Director (Current Charge) Dr. Mahbuba Rahman also spoke on the occasion. Prof Dr. Anwarul Haque highlighted the timeliness of Kazi Nazrul Islam's emergence and noted that his humanist creations have rendered him eternal. He emphasized that Nazrul's works, spanning poems, stories, novels, speeches, and various musical forms, encapsulated the unspoken signals of time and celebrated unity.
Prof Dr. Haque remarked, "We hope the humanist poet's humanistic philosophy will be the message and awakening music of the hearts of the people of the future."
During his address, Prof Mohammad Azam reflected on Kazi Nazrul Islam's significance, stating that he is not just a rebel poet of Bengali literature but also an important revolutionary poet. He noted the limited discussion around the revolutionary spirit and philosophical interpretation of Nazrul's literature, expressing hope that the day's discussion would serve as a starting point for reassessment.
The cultural event concluded with a recitation by artiste Tito Munshi, and Nazrul songs performed by artistes Ferdous Ara, Shahid Kabir Palash, and Tanvir Alam Sajeeb.