Dhaka: Bangla Academy awarded two individuals with the Nazrul Award-2025 for their contributions to the study, performance, and promotion of the works of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. Nazrul's work researcher Prof. Anwarul Haque and Nazrul music artist Shobnom Mushtari received the award at a program organized on the occasion of the 126th birth anniversary of the national poet.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the academy handed over the award during a seminar held at the Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad Auditorium. Bangla Academy director general Prof Mohammad Azam delivered the welcoming speech with its president Professor Abul Quashem Fazlul Haque in the chair. Director of Bangala Gobeshona Afzalul Bashar joined the function as the key speaker, while assistant professor Joglul Asad of Tangail Government Sadat College presented the main speech titled 'Nondoner Banshori O Turzo' or Dynamicity of Nazrul's Literary Thoughts.
Bangla Academy DG Mohammad Azam emphasized the importance of practicing Nazrul's works to gain a deeper understanding of his literary thoughts, highlighting their continued relevance. He noted that Nazrul's works defied the dominant literary norms of his time, suggesting that engaging with them could help overcome literary narrowness and inspire new dimensions of literary aesthetics.
Nazrul researcher Afzalul Bashar remarked on the profound impact of Nazrul as a literary intellectual who voiced the concerns of marginalized people. He emphasized that Nazrul's works encapsulate themes of love, rebellion, peace, sorrow, politics, and religion, and argued against any attempt to confine Nazrul to a single religious identity.
Joglul Asad, while presenting the keynote paper, compared Nazrul's literary thoughts with those of European literatures, offering an outline of his unique contributions. Bangla Academy Chairman Abul Quashem Fazlul Haque commended the awardees for their efforts to enrich Bangla literature and encouraged continued exploration of Nazrul's works to overcome national inferiority complexes.
The seminar concluded with a cultural performance titled 'Dekhbo Ebar Jogottake', directed by Nur Hossen Rana.