The 116th birth anniversary of the National Poet, Kazi Nazrul Islam, will be celebrated today (Monday) across the country in a befitting manner.
The rebel poet Kazi Nazrul Islam was born on the 11th Jaishtha in Bengali calendar year 1306 in Churulia, near Asansol in the Burdwan district of West Bengal.
He was a poet, lyricist, musician, philosopher and soldier. The nation got inspirations from Nazrul's poems and songs during the great Liberation War and all democratic movements and struggles.
The government and various socio-cultural and political organisations have chalked out elaborate programmes to observe the day. The programmes include placing of wreaths at the poet's grave, discussions, rallies and cultural functions.
The days programme will begin with placing of wreath at poet's grave at the Dhaka University at 6:30 am.
Dhaka University teachers, students and employees led by Vice-Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique will place wreath at the poet's mazar and hold a commemorative meeting there.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages paying tributes to the memory of the national poet on the occasion of his 116th birth anniversary.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate a three-day colourful programme of Nazrul Jatyanti in Comilla town hall at 4:30 pm on the day under the theme "Nazrul in Comilla". Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor will chair the programme while Professor Shantunu Kaysar will deliver Nazrul memorial speech.
The Nazrul Research Centre of Dhaka University will hold a two-day seminar marking the poet's birth anniversary.
The Nazrul Institute and the Shilpakala Institute will organize separate discussion meetings and cultural functions marking the day.
Bangla Academy and Nazrul Institute will publish memorial publications and posters of the poet focusing this year's theme.
The Nazrul Institute will hold exhibition of books, photographs and posters of the poet to make new generation familiar with the versatile works of Kazi Nazrul Islam.
Public Library will arrange book exhibition and reading and easy writing competitions on the occasion.
The local administration will also celebrate the birth anniversary at Trishal of Mymensingh and Chittagong, the places that have memories of the poet.
The birth anniversary of the national poet will also be celebrated in all educational institutes, all the districts and Bangladesh foreign missions abroad.
Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and private television channels will air special programmes and the print media will bring out special supplements highlighting the birth anniversary of the national poet.