National

Kazi Nazrul Islam’s 41st death anniversary today

The 41st death anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam is being observed in a befitting manner on Sunday.

On this day (12 Bhadra of Bangla calendar year) in 1976, the poet breathed his last at the then PG Hospital, now Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital in the city.The Poet was buried with state honour beside the Dhaka University Central Mosque.Different political parties, socio-cultural and professional bodies have chalked out elaborate programmes to observe of the poet’s death anniversary.Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television, and other private television channels and radio stations will air special programmes while the national dailies publish special supplements marking the day.According to a press release of Dhaka University (DU), the programmes of the day will start with Qurankhwani after Fajr prayers at the DU Central Mosque that will be followed by a rally of teachers, students, officers and employees of the university in front of the sculpture ‘Aparajeo Bangla’ from where the vice-chancellor of the university will lead a procession at 7.15 am to place wreath at the grave of the poet.Besides, special prayers (fateha) will be offered at the poet’s grave and a discussion will be held there with the DU vice-chancellor in the chair.Bangla Academy also has drawn up various programme in observance of the national poet’s death anniversary.The programmes include placing floral wreath at the poet’s grave on behalf of the Academy at 7 am and holding solo lecture and musical function at Kabi Shamsur Rahman Seminar Room at 4 pm at the Academy.Emeritus Professor Sirajul Islam will chair the discussion while Academy Director General Shamsuzzaman Khan will deliver welcome address and DU Bangla Department Professor Soumitra Sekhar will present solo lecture on Kabi Nazrul.In observance of the day, the Nazrul Institute will confer ‘Nazrul Padak-2016’ and organize a cultural function at the main auditorium of the National Museum at Shahbagh at 6.15 pm.Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor will address the function as the chief guest.Chhayanaut will observe the death anniversary of Nazrul through different programmes at its auditorium in the city at 7 pm today.Most famous for his fiery poem Bidrohi (The Rebel) and his many melodious songs, Kazi Nazrul Islam was born on the 11th Joishtha in Bengali calendar year 1306 in Churulia, near Asansol in the Burdwan district of West Bengal.He was a poet, lyricist, musician, revolutionary and philosopher. The nation got inspirations from Nazrul’s poems and songs during the great Liberation War and all democratic movements and struggles.Nazrul wrote and composed nearly 4,000 songs which are known as Nazrul-Geeti or Nazrul Sangit. He composed the songs, which he liked to tune himself.After the independence of Bangladesh, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman brought poet Nazrul Islam to Dhaka from Kolkata along with his family and made arrangements for living with state honour.Bangabandhu also provided a residence for the family of the poet in the city’s Dhanmondi.Source: BSS