Bangla Academy on Wednesday observed the 49th death anniversary of the National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam through an elaborate programme.
Led by Bangla Academy Director General Mohammad Azam, officials and employees of the academy paid glowing tributes to the poet by placing a wreath at his mazar in the Dhaka University campus in the morning, said a press release.
A seminar and cultural event was held at the academy's poet Shamsur Rahman Seminar Room.
Nazrul researcher Anwarul Haque presented an article titled "Nazrul's Fundamental Conscience." Nazrul researcher Syeda Motahera Banu and poet and essayist Kazi Nasir Mamun participated in the discussion with Bangla Academy Director General in the chair.
Bangla Academy Secretary Selim Reza and Bangla Academy's Associate Director (current charge) Mahbuba Rahman also spoke.
Anwarul Haque said the emergence of Kazi Nazrul Islam at the juncture of the era was timely.
His humanist creations have made him eternal, he added.
In his poems, stories, novels, speeches, ghazals, Islamic music, Shyama Sangeet, devotional songs, and all creations have realized the unspoken signals of time and played the tune of great unity, said Anwarul.
"We hope the humanist poet's humanistic philosophy will be the message and awakening music of the hearts of the people of the future," he further added.
Mohammad Azam said Kazi Nazrul Islam is not just a rebel poet of Bengali literature, but he is an important revolutionary poet.
There has been very little discussion about the revolutionary spirit of Nazrul's poetry, just as there has been little philosophical interpretation of his literature, he said.
Azam said, today's discussion would undoubtedly be considered a starting point for the reassessment of Nazrul.
Later, artiste Tito Munshi performed a recitation at the cultural event. Nazrul songs were performed by artistes Ferdous Ara, Shahid Kabir Palash and Tanvir Alam Sajeeb.
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