Different organisations, including Dhaka University, Bangla Academy, Bangladesh Udichi Shilpighosti, Bashori, and Chhayanaut, celebrated the 127th birth anniversary of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam across the country through various programmes on Monday.

Dhaka University organised an event comprising a discussion and musical performances of Nazrul’s works at the poet’s graveyard on campus. Dhaka University vice-chancellor professor Dr A.B.M. Obaidul Islam chaired the event. DU pro-vice-chancellor (Education) professor Abdus Salam, pro-vice-chancellor (Administration) professor Dr Mohammed Almujaddade Alfasane, and treasurer professor M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury also spoke at the programme.

The director general of Bangla academy and professor of the DU Bangla department, Mohammad Azam, delivered the memorial lecture titled ‘Droher Kobi, Praner Kobi Nazrul’.

At the event teachers and students from the DU music department performed Nazrul songs.

Paying tribute to the national poet, the vice-chancellor noted that despite facing severe hardship and poverty, Nazrul never stopped writing and left remarkable contributions to every branch of Bangla literature. Describing Nazrul as a poet of equality, rebellion, love, and peace, he added that Nazrul’s philosophy must be preserved through continuous research and practice to build a non-communal society. 

Earlier in the morning, teachers, students, officers, and employees of the university, led by the vice-chancellor, gathered at Aparajeyo Bangla and marched to the poet’s graveyard, where they placed wreaths and offered Fateha to mark the occasion.