DHAKA: Bangladesh is observing the 116th birth anniversary of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam Monday in a befitting manner.

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.

The government has chalked out elaborate programs to observe Kazi Nazrul Islam's birth anniversary.

Theme of the 116th birth anniversary of poet Nazrul this year is set ‘Nazrul in Comilla’.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the event as chief guest on Comilla’s Town Hall premises around 4:00pm on the day.

Cultural affairs minister Asaduzzaman Noor will chair the program, to be attended by planning minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, railway minister Mujibul Haque, Comilla-6 constituency MP AKM Bahauddin Bahar and Nazrul Institute Trustee Board president Professor Emeritus Rafiqul Islam.

Nazrul Academy has chalked out a four-day program from May 22 to commemorate the rebel poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.

Academy’s general secretary Mintu Rahman said different programs will be arranged at ‘Jatiya Songit and Nrittokola Kendro’ of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in city from 5:30pm everyday.

Poet’s daughter-in-law Uma Kazi and grand daughter Khilkhil Kazi will inaugurate the programs on May 22. Later in the day, prominent Nazrul Geeti singers Yakub Ali Khan, Nashid Kamal, Sujit Mostafa and Khilkhil Kazi will join a discussion on the songs of Nazrul.

On the second day, there will be an hour-long program on quality development of the academy’s students. Then, singers from all over the country will perform.

On May 24, there will be poetry recitation program after the hour-long quality development program. A Nazrul Sangeet-based dancing program also will be organized.

On the last day, wreath will be place to the tomb of national poet and five Sabda Sainik (word-soldier) will get ‘Honor 2015’.

However, the birth anniversary celebration will also be held in Mymensingh’s Trishal and Chittagong, the places visited by the rebel poet.

Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar and other private TV channels and radio stations will air special programs highlighting the significance of the day.

The law enforcers will remain alert across the country to organize the birth anniversary programs smoothly.

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.

There are 2,400 of his songs, and together, they are known as Nazrul-Geeti or Nazrul Sangit. He composed the songs, which he liked to tune himself.

Considering his impressive talent, Rabindranath Tagore dubbed him as Saraswati's bor-putra (the gifted son of the Goddess of learning).

BDST: 1100 HRS, MAY 25, 2015
BD/RS/SMS