ASANSOL, PASCHIM BARDHAMAN: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Kazi Nazrul Islam enriched Bangla literature immensely.

The premier made the remarks at the Kazi Nazrul University in West Bengal’s Asansol during a Special Convocation on Saturday (May 26).

The university authorities conferred the honorary D.Litt degree upon her around 12:10pm.

“The emergence of the poet in Bangla Literature is like comet in the sky. He (Kazi Nazrul Islam) loaded Bangla Literature with golden crops,” Sheikh Hasina said.

Referring to him a poet of humanity, Sheikh Hasina said, “Kazi Nazrul Islam was a wonder of multiple talents. He was a poet, a novelist, a songwriter, a musician, a singer, a music director, a playwright, a dramatist, a journalist, an editor and a soldier at the same time.

“His songs and poems inspired us from the Language Movement to the Liberation Movement. He was instrumental in our protest against the tyranny of British rule, but also against that of Pakistan,” the prime minister said.

Sheikh Hasina said, “We are blessed, because we got poets like Nazrul and Rabindranath. They not only enriched our language, literature and culture, in fact, they brought about change in our values and lifestyles.”   

In 1972, Kazi Nazrul Islam was granted Bangladeshi citizenship and declared the national poet of Bangladesh. The poet was laid to rest on the Dhaka University campus after his death in 1976.

Though he was born in Charulia, Nazrul travelled all across Bengal. He spent a portion of his childhood in Mymensingh and also lived in Cumilla, Chattogram, Sirajganj and Faridpur, among other places, she added.

BDST: 1545 HRS, MAY 26, 2018
AH/SMS