Bangladesh
PM at Nazrul Festival Nazrul's contribution in building national identity of Bengali nation is undeniable: PM
Own Correspondent, Dhaka, March 11: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the contribution of Kazi Nazrul Islam in building the national identity of the Bengali nation is undeniable.
She said that Kazi Nazrul Islam's energetic poems, songs and literature had inspired us in the long struggle for independence from the Pakistani occupiers starting from the anti-British movement, and by breaking the shackles of subjugation, it had paved the way for its emergence as a distinct nation.
The Prime Minister said this in a message on the occasion of Nazrul Utsav on Friday (March 11). She said that the greatest Bengali of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was greatly influenced by the philosophy of Nazrul Islam, the poet of Bengali Awakening. After the independence of Bangladesh under the undisputed leadership of the Father of the Nation, the rebellious poet Kazi Nazrul Islam was given the status of National Poet on his own initiative.
In a statement, she said that through diplomatic efforts, the poet was brought to Dhaka with his family as a national guest on May 24 to celebrate the poet's 73rd birthday on May 25, 1972 and was granted citizenship and proper treatment was arranged for him. On December 9, 1974, the University of Dhaka conferred the title of D.Litt on the poet through a special convocation.
When his health deteriorated in July, 1975, President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman provided him with advanced treatment at the then PG Hospital and now Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital. Meanwhile, the anti-independence clique brutally killed the father of the nation and his family on August 15, 1975. The poet could not return home from the hospital. He breathed his last in August, 1976.
The Prime Minister said that the voice of our national poet was silenced forever in the '40s. Until then, however, he has left for us an invaluable literary collection of countless songs, poems and compositions. The poet dreamed of building a new society by ending the deprivation of the oppressed people and establishing equality among all Bengalis irrespective of religion. That was the basis of 'Sonar Bangladesh', the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. We are working for the development of the country by embracing the ideals of the father of the nation.
Meanwhile, a two-day Nazrul festival has started today on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of independence. The festival is being held at Gulshan Society Lake Park in a joint venture between Bangladesh Nazrul Sangeet Sangstha and Arun Ranjani and in collaboration with Gulshan Society. The festival will see the unveiling of 125 short traditional Nazrul Sangeet packages with two Bengali artists and the inauguration of Nazrul Sangeet Kosh (online).
Hundreds of famous and emerging artists from Bangladesh and India will perform music, recitations and dances at the festival. The event will run every day from 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm, which is open to all subject to the collection of invitations.
